Introduction
Course Introduction
English 32L presents a broad survey of American literature, spanning a period from the post-Civil War era to the present day. The selected readings are representative of not only diverse literary forms but also the evolutionary—and sometimes revolutionary—development of a larger American culture during the past 150 years.
The literary works offered in this course are derived from highly formative historical circumstances and events that have evolved from Westward Expansion, urban industrialization, several major wars, the Great Depression, unprecedented social ferment and protest, and the explosion of information and communication technology. You will see that American literature has not only reflected these landmark developments but also has in many ways influenced them.
You will encounter uniquely American voices in many forms: poems, a novel, short stories, letters, and essays. All combine to render a rich and compelling panorama of a diverse and profoundly engaging nation.
