Narratives of Liberation

The theme of human liberation has appeared in literary works from around the world and across centuries. This course will examine a variety of narratives that foreground the attainment pf physical, spiritual, and political freedom for individuals and groups. Beginning with the Book of Exodus and traveling through African American slave narratives, British proto-feminist novels, Latin American testimonios, and contemporary films, we will examine how a wide range of writers and filmmakers have conceptualized the goal and the process of liberation in their works. Requirements for the course will include two papers/projects and a final exam.