Beginning American Literature: Native American Writings of Origin and Continuance

elective courses

The course is a survey of Native American literature with emphasis on themes and issues prevalent throughout its development. It is meant to raise awareness of a vast body of oral literature that existed prior to first contact, and its culmination in the emergence of written literature. The course is designed to familiarize first year students with diverse literary forms and devices, and equip them with the ability to critically read and respond to various types of oral and written texts. The structure and narration techniques typical of Native American literary works will be the focus of our attention. We will discuss examples of Indian ceremonial chants and oratory, creation and trickster stories of various tribes, as well as short sories. Chosen literary works of prominent Native American writers (e.g N. Scott Momaday, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, Simon Ortiz) will serve as an example of continuance and creative response and reworking of tradition.

The course is a survey of Native American literature with emphasis on themes and issues prevalent throughout its development. It is meant to raise awareness of a vast body of oral literature that existed on the continent prior to first contact, and the changes it was subjected to after, culminating in the emergence of written literature. The course is designed to familiarize first year students with diverse literary forms and devices, and equip them with the ability to critically read and respond to various types of oral and written texts. The structure and narration techniques typical of Native American literary works will be the focus of our attention. We will discuss examples of Indian ceremonial chants and oratory, creation and trickster stories of various tribes, as well as short sories. Chosen literary works of prominent Native American writers (e.g N. Scott Momaday, Leslie Marmon Silko) as well as those most contemporary (e.g. Tommy Orange, Terese Marie Mailhot) will serve as an example of continuance and creative response and reworking of tradition.

Topics covered:

- Key concepts

- American Indian literature, Indianness, reservation, assimilation/acculturation, ethnicity/race,

-oral tradition

-narration

-representation

-identity

-Native American Renaissance

-Trickster (figures)

-Indian humor

-tribe/family/clan

Primary sources (selection): N. Scott Momaday, The Way to Rainy Mountain; Leslie Marmon Silko, Storyteller; Louise Erdrich, Love Meicine, Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven; Terese Marie Mailhot, Heart Berries; Zitkala-Sa, American Indian Stories; Charles Alexander Eastman, From the Deep Woods to Civilization, Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz American Indian Myths and Legends

Secondary sources (selection): Paula Gunn Allen The Sacred Hoop, Studies in American Indian Literature; Joy Porter, The Cambridge Companion to Native American Literature; John Prudy, Writing Indian. Native Conversations; David Treuer, Native American Fiction: A User's Manual; Karl Kroeber, Native American Storytelling

Upon completing the course the student:

KNOWLEDGE

- Recognizes the specificity of Native American literature

- Understands the phenomenon of the oral tradition

- Distinguishes main themes and figures in Native American literature

- Conceptualizes the role of spirituality in Native American culture

- Uses basic terminology employed in literary analysis

SKILLS

- Is able to critically analyze literary works using the concept of Indianness

- Has improved skills in presenting his/her conclusisons in class

- Has the ability to formulate a research topic in Native American literary studies

-Correctly employs tools for literary analysis

-Identifies relations between Native American and mainstream literature.

COMPETENCES

- Is open to the uniqueness of minority literature

- Is able to formulate his opinion regarding the position of Native writers in the canon

- Has qualifications necessary for writing an essay in literary studies

- Identifies mutual influences of Native and mainstream literature

- Demonstrates respect for Native beliefs and customs

1. Attendance and active participation in class discussions and other

activities - 30% of the final grade.

2. Essay - 40 % of the final grade.

3. Response papers - 30% of the final grade.

Students will need 60% minimum to pass the class. Failure to attempt to complete any of the major assignment will result in failure of the class.

Grading scale:

0-60 - 2

61-68 - 3

69-76 - 3,5

77-84 - 4

85-92 - 4,5

93-100 – 5

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