Essaying the Essay

This course explores the personal essay as a vehicle for self-expression. Examining self-reflective essays from a variety of cultures and time periods--ancient, modern, East, and West--we trace the theme of friends as dialectical others against whom individuals define themselves. Our investigations will lead us to a provisional definition of the essay genre, keeping in mind its unique placement between fiction and non-fiction, and its relationship with non-Western forms such as the suibi and the xiaopin wen . First year students need instructor permission to enroll.