Major American Novels

Course Description

In this class, we will be reading and considering a number of the most important or most critically lauded moments in the development of the American novel.

Course Schedule

All assignments must be completed before the end of the day (11:59PM) on the date listed below.

Week 1

08.22 Thu

Introduction

Week 2

08.27 Tue

Scarlet Letter, Introduction & Chapters 1-7

08.29 Thu

Scarlet Letter, Chapters 8-16

Week 3

09.03 Tue

Scarlet Letter, Finish

09.05 Thu

"Bartleby the Scrivener", All

Week 4

09.10 Tue

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 1-11

09.12 Thu

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 12-22

Week 5

09.17 Tue

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 23-33

09.19 Thu

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Finish

Week 6

09.24 Tue

Daisy Miller (Assignment #1 Due), All

09.26 Thu

The House of Mirth, Book One, Chapters 1-7

Week 7

10.01 Tue

The House of Mirth, Book One, Chapters 8-15

10.03 Thu

The House of Mirth, Book Two, Chapters 1-7

Week 8

10.08 Tue

The House of Mirth, Finish

10.10 Thu

My Ántonia, Book 1

Week 9

10.15 Tue

Fall Break, No Class

10.17 Thu

My Ántonia, Finish

Week 10

10.22 Tue

Great Gatsby, Chapters 1-3

10.24 Thu

Great Gatsby, Chapters 4-6

Week 11

10.29 Tue

Great Gatsby, Finish

10.31 Thu

Invisible Man, Chapters 1-3

Week 12

11.05 Tue

Invisible Man, Chapters 4-9

11.07 Thu

Invisible Man, Chapters 10-13 (Assignment #2 Due)

Week 13

11.12 Tue

Invisible Man, Chapters 14-18

11.14 Thu

Invisible Man, Chapters 19-22

Week 14

11.19 Tue

Invisible Man, Finish

11.21 Thu

Blood Meridian, Chapters 1-5

Week 15

11.26 Tue

Blood Meridian, Chapters 6-11

11.28 Thu

Thanksgiving, No Class

Week 16

12.03 Tue

Blood Meridian, Chapters 12-16

12.05 Thu

Blood Meridian, Finish (Assignment #3 Due by 12/12)