ENGL 488 - Humor in American Literature

Institution:

Xavier University

Subject:

Description:

This course is organized historically to trace a variety of important forms of humor in American literature from the eighteenth century (such authors as Ben Franklin and Royall Tyler) through the nineteenth century (including humor of the Old Southwest, Herman Melville, Mark Twain, and Charles Chesnutt), the earlier twentieth century (e.g., William Faulkner and James Thurber), and the past fifty years with its rich range of humor from Flannery O’Connor and Joseph Heller to Woody Allen and Garrison Keillor. Making connections across these periods, the course will ask what, if anything, might be distinctive about American humor and attempt to place our readings and discussion in theoretical as well as historical contexts. Although the focus of the course will be on literature, students will be invited to make connections between the readings and humor they experience on television and in films. Pre-requisite: ENGL 205.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.xavier.edu

Phone Number:

(513) 745-3000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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