In this course, we will peruse many variations of literary criticism on the example of one novel: The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Of course, Hawthorne has written much more famous and influential works, yet enough scholars have discussed The Blithedale Romance to allow us to view it through a variety of lenses: biographical, comparative, Marxist, feminist, historicist, critical race theory, utopian, genre, myth and symbol school, postcolonial, psychoanalytical, and more. After reading the book in the first two weeks, the course will enjoy one essay after the other (not fifty, but in the style of Hawthorne, the title of the course is exaggerating a little). That is, this course dives into literary studies and essay writing without presuming too much prior knowledge of Hawthorne, or even the discipline. For those already familiar in these waters, it offers the opportunity to finally go as deep as one chooses into academic debates. What is required of students is an investment in literature, and an interest in the many facets that literary studies can unveil (pun intended. You’ll see.).
The Blithedale Romance - A Norton Critical Edition: An Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism; ed. by Richard H. Millington. Norton.
PLEASE ACQUIRE THIS (!) VERSION
all other reading will be provided via moodle
Essay (3000 words) on The Blithedale Romance (of course)
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