English 856: Literature of the American West

Multicultural Studies of the West

Spring 2007

Western American Literature will examine texts of Ethnic American writers selected from diverse ethnic/immigrant backgrounds. The class will focus on the distinctive features of the various cultures in these works, a comparison of their themes, symbols, characterizations, styles, narrative techniques, and cultural significances, and their place in the American literary tradition.

The books will be studied: Native American novels Fools Crow by James Welch, Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan, and Ceremony by Leslie Silko; Chicano/Chicana novels Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisnerso; and immigrant/emigrant novels My Antonia by Willa Cather, Yonnondio by Tillie Olsen, and Riding the White Horse Home by Teresa Jordan. As the works center on rites of passage of adolescents and young adults, especially in connection with place and displacement, these classic and contemporary works would be appropriate for high school students.

Requirements
The requirements and expectations for students enrolled in the Spring 2007 session of English 856.

Assignments
The weekly assignments for students enrolled in the Spring 2007 session of English 856.

Class Bibliography Spring 2007
This annotated, working bibliography, which will be updated each week during the class session, will provide background materials in literary criticism, historical and cultural contexts, and pedagogy.

Class Bibliography Fall 2001
This bibliography provides additional background materials in literary criticism, historical and cultural contexts, and pedagogy on several multicultural authors and cultures.

Teaching Cather
A paper by Burwell High School teacher, Connie Piper, on teaching "Neighbor Rosicky" and My Antonia.

Selected Library References
Mary Barton, English Department Liason in the UNK library has compiled a list of helpful research resources available at Calvin T. Ryan.

Studies in American Indian Literatures
The Home Page of SAIL which contains full texts of journal articles from Series 1 (1977-1987, volumes 1.1-11.2)and most articles from Series 2 (1989-2005, volumes 1.1-17.4).

Wicazo Sa
The web site for full texts of articles from the Wicazo Sa journal.

American Indian Quarterly
The Home Page of American Indian Quarterly which contains full texts of journal articles.
Native American Search Engine. I have created a Native American Studies search engine, to be found at .