480-L1 Anderson, Hemingway, Purdy 37942
Instructor: J. Skerrett T/Th
2:30 pm
We will read work by and about three writers of the American Midwest who wrote
about the Midwest but also about the wider world. Each of them was an innovative
voice in the American short story who also excelled at
the novel, and common themes abound. Their stories and novels explore
dysfunctional families, alienation and the oppressions of village life,
anxieties of sexual identity and orientation and the vexed issues of race,
gender and class. Readings will include: Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg,
Ohio and Poor White; Ernest Hemingway, The Nick Adams Stories
and The Sun Also Rises; James Purdy, Color of Darkness and The
Nephew; additional texts and critical materials in a course packet and/or
library reserve. Requirements: three (3) five page papers, a final exam, and an
assignment connected to the Assessing James Purdy Conference that will take
place on campus October 25th.
Syllabus:
English 480: Anderson,
Hemingway and Purdy
Fall 2003
Professor Joseph T. Skerrett, Jr.
Syllabus & Schedule
Texts:
:
Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg
The Egg and Other Stories
Ernest Hemingway, The
Nick Adams Stories
To Have and Have Not
James Purdy, Color of Darkness and
Other Stories
Sept 4 Introductions;
Rules & Regs
9 Sherwood
Anderson and
11 Anderson,
16 “ “
18 “ “
23
25 “ “
30
Ernest
Hemingway and The Nick Adams Stories
Oct 2 Hemingway,
The Nick Adams Stories
7 “ “
9 “ “
14
James Purdy and Color
of Darkness
15
Purdy, Color
of Darkness
21 “ “
23
short stories, TBA
28
30 “ “
Nov 4 “ “
6 “ “
11
Veterans Day
13 Hemingway, To Have and Have Not
18 “ “
20 “ “
25
NO CLASS
27 THANKSGIVING RECESS – NO CLASS
Dec 2 Purdy, The Nephew
4 “ “
9 “ “
11 “ “
& Conclusions
Office: 460 Bartlett Hall
Tel. no: 545-3694 E-mail: skerrett@english.umass.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays,
Attendance Policy: You are permitted three (3) unexcused absences.
Accumulating more than three absences will result in a grade penalty.
Assignments: Three (3)
five page papers, one on each writer. Papers have no absolute due date, but one
should turned in each month (October, November, December). A fourth assignment is to attend a session of
the ASSESSING JAMES PURDY Conference , October 24-25, and
to write a response paper of about three pages. Papers must make use of the
library or other research materials. No more than one (1) WWW source may be used in a paper.
There will also be three to five quizzes and exercises or homework assignments.
Grading Policy: Each of the
three page papers is worth 20 points; the conference report and other
assignments are each worth three to five points, depending on how many are in
fact assigned. Failure to submit all three (3) five-page papers will result in
a grade of F for the course.