English 502 Prof. Allison
Spring 2012, MW 2-3:15
Adolescence in Literature (undergraduate)
Books:
Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian
Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick
Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, Book One
Karen Hesse, Aleutian Sparrow
Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere
Russell Hoban, Soonchild
Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Art Spiegelman, The Complete Maus
Description:
English 502 explores works in which key characters are adolescents as well as works that have been specifically written for adolescents, primarily the contemporary Young Adult novel. Adolescence is a time during which cognitive functions, argumentative capacity, self-identity, ego, sexual relationships and love, societal relationships, authority relationships, justice and conscience, bodily image, career, education--and of course much more--are developed, explored, challenged, outgrown. These issues are depicted in narratives that reveal the keen emotions and observations of teenagers. As we'll see, however, adolescence is as much a cultural construct as a clearly defined biological and cognitive phenomenon.
Some of the most exciting publishing being done these days is in Young Adult fiction, as represented by the booklist. Short stories and movies are part of the course as well.
Movies:Athol Fugard, Master Harold … and the Boys
Osama
Hand-outs
Short stories: “A&P” John Updike; “After the Theater,” Anton Chekov; “Eveline,” James Joyce; “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates; “Greasy Lake,” T. Coraghassen Boyle; “South India Afternoon,” Amal Joseph Jolly
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