LFU:online

Knowledge of key events in American history; ability to understand literary texts in their historical contexts; awareness of diverse functions of literature

Literature can offer more than aesthetic pleasures. Following the motto "the pen is mightier than the sword," it has attempted, and attempts, to change social conditions, fight injustice, and motivate readers to become better persons.

This course analyzes a selection of such ambitious literary works from various periods of American history, works that have shaped, or at least attempted to shape, American culture in decisive ways. In connecting the "literariness" of the individual works to the concrete historical conditions they address, we will ask the following questions: What visions of a better America does literature offer? How can it achieve its goal, or why does it fail to achieve it? How does it maintain a balance between beauty, propaganda, fiction, and truth?

Lecture inputs, presentations, group discussions

Active class participation, student presentations, reading assignments, term paper

As far as possible, course materials and selected secondary sources will be posted on OLAT.

Prerequisite for the Bachelor Program (612): positive completion of compulsory module 10,  for the Teacher Training Program (Lehramtsstudium: 344): VO2: Introduction to American Literary Studies, for BA Lehramt (344): positive completion of compulsory module 13

For the Teacher Training Program (Lehramtsstudium: 344): PS2: American Literature.

Due to substantial differences in the allocation of ECTS-Credits in various curricula (teacher training program - BA/MA English and American Studies), the requirements for this course vary. Information will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the course.