English 159 - Spring, 2022

Topics in the Novel

Topic: EXPERIMENTAL FICTION: MOBY DICK

 

Class Information

Instructor: Vernon, Matthew
CRN: 62392
Time: TR 9:00-10:20
Location: 248 Voorhies
GE Areas: Writing Experience

Description

We will be reading Moby-Dick as a series of literary experiments. This means that throughout the quarter we will be trying out a variety of theoretical approaches to come to terms with what the text is and how to situate it among other forms of artistic experimentation. Among the topic we will consider are Melville?s approaches to race, ecology, queerness, economics, Milton, and romanticism. This course will equip students with a broad critical vocabulary, as well as close reading/presentation skills. Also, by the end of it you will have read a very big book.
 

Texts

Melville short stories
Moby Dick