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Kristen Roupeniankroupenian@(774) 454 7422 Office: Barker 047The New Global Novel(Junior Tutorial 2013)Commonwealth, postcolonial, transnational, global: these are just some of the words we use to describe literature that travels across borders, languages, and cultures. Most of the books we commonly slot into these categories do not fit neatly into a single national tradition – but then, these days, few books do. In this class, we will discuss six novels published over the past decade, paying close attention both to the global contexts into which the novels were received and to the issues of translation, citizenship, nationhood, and human rights they raise. We will ask, and aim to answer, the following questions: how does literature circulate in the 21st century? Which books tend to travel, and why? What do readers, writers, academics and publishers gain from categorizing certain novels as “global” or “transnational” and others as American, British, Indian, and so on? What does it mean to call English a global language? How do we – and how ought we – read across cultures? Through it all, we will keep in mind the question raised by Simon Gikandi in the essay we read on the first day of class: “What is this thing called literature and what work does it do?” Assignments:There is a significant amount of both reading and writing for this class, in preparation for the production of a 20-25 page work of original research at the end of the course. You should keep the workload for this class in mind when choosing other courses. If you find yourself struggling to keep up, come talk to me. Participation: 25%Short Assignments: 25%Prospectus: 10%Annotated bibliography: 10%Essay draft: 10%Final essay: 20%All of the assignments leading up to the final essay are ungraded (check/check minus/check plus) but they must be completed in a thorough and timely manner in order for you to receive full credit. Primary Texts:Open City, Teju Cole (2011)The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy (1997)Elizabeth Costello, JM Coetzee (2003)NW, Zadie Smith (2012)What is the What, Dave Eggers (2006) Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)Week 1: IntroductionsSecondary Material: “This Thing Called Literature…What Work Does It Do?” by Simon GikandiShort Introductory Assignment (1.5-2 pages)Week 2: Open CityPrimary Material: Open City, by Teju Cole Secondary Material: “The Arrival of Enigmas,” by James WoodShort Assignment: Book Review (2-3 pages)Week 3: The God of Small ThingsPrimary Material: The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy, through p. 225 (“Kochu Thomban”)Secondary Material: “Trauma and Temporal Hybridity in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things,” Elizabeth OutkaShort Assignment: Summary of response to secondary source material (2 pages)Week 4: The God of Small Things (cont.)Primary Material: The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy (to conclusion) Secondary Material: Chosen by students (one article per student)Short Assignment: Come to class ready to discuss the secondary material you have chosen. Your meeting with Laura Farwell Blake (the English Department reference librarian) will also take place this week.Week 5: Elizabeth CostelloPrimary Material: Elizabeth Costello, JM Coetzee Secondary Material: Chosen by students to answer the question “What does the ending of this book mean?Short Assignment: Compile a list of themes, thoughts, questions and ideas in anticipation of submitting your prospectus next weekWeek 6: NW, Zadie SmithPrimary Material: NW, Zadie Smith Secondary Material: “Literature for the Planet,” Wai Chee DimockAssignment: Your prospectus is due this week.Week 7: NW, Zadie Smith (cont.)Primary Material: NW, Zadie Smith, (cont.)Secondary Material: “Fictions of the Global,” Rita Barnard.Short Assignment: None, read in preparation for turning in your annotated bibliography next week. Week 8: What is the WhatPrimary Material: What is the What, Dave EggersSecondary Material: “An Interview With Dave Eggers,” published in The Harvard Literary Advocate.Assignment: Annotated bibliography is due this week.Week 9: What is the What (cont.)Primary Material: What is the What, Dave Eggers (cont.)Secondary Material: ““Dave Eggers’ What is the What: Fictionalizing Trauma in the Era of Misery Lit,” Elizabeth Twichell.Assignment: None, work in anticipation of your outline, which is due next week.Week 10: Never Let Me GoPrimary Material: Never Let Me Go, Kazuo IshiguroSecondary Material: “‘Unimaginable Largeness’: Kazuo Ishiguro, Translation, and the New World Literature,” Rebecca WalkowitzAssignment: Outline due.Week 11: Never Let Me GoPrimary Material: Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (cont.)Secondary Material: “What’s Yours, Mine, and Ours: Authorial Authorship and the Creative Commons,” Emily Apter.Assignment: None, work in anticipation of submitting your full drafts next week.Week 12: Presentations and Peer Review WorkshopA full first draft of your essay is due in class this week.The final draft of your essay is due on the last day of reading period (Dec. 11, 2013). ................
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