ENG 207 - African-American Literature

 
Description
This is a survey of literature by African-Americans from the days of slavery, through Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, Modernism, from the beginnings of African American writings to twenty-first century authors. The objective of this course is to view African American literature critically, theoretically, historically and politically.

1. Identify and place African-American writers in proper historical sequence in the cultural backdrop of America.
2. Objectively analyze the writings, specifically, the folk tales, poetry, essays, plays, fiction and autobiography of African-Americans.
3. Evaluate the literature by critically examining the issues that generated and encouraged African-American expression.
4. Identify patterns in the human condition, both black and white, as well as patterns in the literature that argue for a relationship between past and present.
5. Critique how African-Americans have recorded the history of America and its people through literature.

1. Geographic influences on authors
2. Principal historic movements, culture, and political tendencies which influence a writer’s ideas and style
3. Language structure and characteristics of each author’s writings
4. Literary analysis of major works
5. Timeline of periods and authors
6. Recurring themes in African-American literature
7. Representations of African-American Identity in African-American literature

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