Course Description:  American Literary Realism: This course will critically engage the ongoing debate about the nature and value of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American fiction.  Well into the twentieth century, the academic study of literature in English was focused on British authors and the value of literature written in the U.S. was far from established.  Eventually, the study of realism and naturalism would become central to the identity of an America emerging as a world power.  The debates surrounding the definition of American literature involve literary questions of canon formation, political questions surrounding America¿s global position in the twentieth century, and questions about American identity (especially as regards race, gender, and class).  In this course students will use primary texts to develop a research project on the disciplinary development of American literature and American studies. (taken from my.butler class description)

Research Topic Proposal Presentation