20th-Century Literatures in English

This course offers a broad introduction to a range of literatures written in English, tracing shifts in the formal conventions of fiction and poetry. We examine ongoing debates about what literature is and what social role it plays. We consider how these debates respond to historical changes such as industrialization, the collapse of global empires, and movements for social equality. Writers include Dreiser, Woolf, Eliot, Hughes, Toomer, Cather, Morrison, Hwang, Rushdie. Enrollment limited to 30. Students should register for ENGL 0700K S01 and will be assigned to conference sections by the instructors during the first week of class.