Native American Literature and Culture

4 credits · Undergraduate

This survey course introduces several prominent genres of Native American literary production, including oral traditions, nonfiction essay, novel, short story, poems, and speculative fiction. Selections are drawn primarily from Native American/Aboriginal writers in the United States and Canada from the nineteenth century to present. Readings will also include a traditional Nez Perce story in the original language, with translation provided by the instructor. In addition to aesthetic and literary analysis, particular attention will be given to the social, cultural, and political contexts in which these works were produced.