Literature of the New World

This is a full-year online course that offers an in-depth exploration of North American literature, from early colonization to the present. The course focuses on the intersection of literature and culture, examining how novels have shaped and been shaped by society. Students will analyze various literary movements, including colonial writings, Enlightenment and Revolutionary period writings, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, American gothic, literary realism/naturalism/modernism, and dystopian literature. The course aims to develop advanced critical thinking and literary analysis skills through weekly writing assignments, short responses to prompts, and substantive analytic papers.

The course covers mature and challenging themes, such as slavery, racial injustice, and historical inequality. As such, it is recommended for upper-level students who have experience with analytic writing and are comfortable engaging critically with literature through thesis-based writing assignments. Parents should review the proposed readings to ensure they are suitable for their student's maturity level.