American Literature 1950-2000 - JTM243

• Title: American Literature 1950-2000
• Czech title: Americká literatura 1950-2000
• Guaranteed by: Department of North American Studies (23-KAS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 24 / unknown (24)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: PhDr. Jiří Hanuš
• Teacher(s): PhDr. Jiří Hanuš
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (31.01.2024)

This course, conducted in English, will introduce the students to the period of American writing that saw an explosion of various approaches to fiction and poetry, reflecting dramatic changes in American society. Basic orientation in the various streams of postwar writing, from the confessional mainstream novel through the Beats to experimental prose and postmodern writing. The diversity of styles in this period corresponds to the increasingly complex picture of the American society and reflects its complexity.

Aim of the course

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (31.01.2024)

Provide the students with an overview of American society and literature in the second half of the 20th century

Course completion requirements

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (05.02.2024)

According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-20/2019):

• 91% and more   => A
• 81-90%             => B
• 71-80%             => C
• 61-70%             => D
• 51-60%             => E
• 0-50%               => F

More in SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

Literature

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (31.01.2024)

Samples of literary texts will be provided to the students by e-mail as well as notes and commentaries.

Teaching methods

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (31.01.2024)

Combination of brief survey of the given author's life and work, followed by close reading of sample texts and concluded by discussion of the texts.

Taught in person.

Requirements to the exam

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (31.01.2024)

In the final test students have to show good knowledge of the authors and texts, discussed during the term.

 

Syllabus

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (31.01.2024)

The explosion of American writing after 1950

 

The course will provide the students with basic orientation in the various streams of postwar prose and poetry, from the confessional mainstream novel through the Beats to experimental prose and postmodern writing. The diversity of styles in this period corresponds to the increasingly complex picture of the American society and reflects its complexity. Listed are the authors samples of whose writing will be read in the class.

 

Introduction

James Baldwin

Vladimir Nabokov

J. D. Salinger

Beat Movement

Ken Kesey

Saul Bellow

Philip Roth

John Updike

Joyce Carol Oates

Tony Morrison

John Irving  

Tom Robbins