Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 21L.501 (Fall 2006) 
• Course Title:
• The American Novel 
• Course Level:
• Undergraduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Literature 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. Sandy Alexandre 
• Course Introduction:
•  
• 
  
  21L.501 The American Novel
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2006

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  21L.501 The American Novel
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2006

  
  
  

  

  Topsy and Eva, respectively, two characters from Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. The quote below the illustration is said by Eva to Topsy, "I love you, because you haven't had any father, or mother, or friends;-because you've been a poor, abused child!" (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction number: LC-USZC4-2974 [color film copy transparency].)

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  This course explores the metaphorical, historical, social, and psychological value of ghosts in the American novel. Using the theme of "haunting" as a flashpoint for class discussion and a thematic center for our readerly attention, this course examines the American novel in the context of the various histories which might be said to haunt fictional characters in the American novel, to haunt the American novel itself, and ultimately to haunt us: America's colonial past, its slave past, and other memorable and painful chapters in its past.
  
  

  Recommended Citation

  
  
  

  For any use or distribution of these materials, please cite as follows:

  Sandy Alexandre, course materials for 21L.501 The American Novel, Fall 2006. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu/), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].