1. Week In Class Homework
1 Monday Establish your username, and explore the class webpage
April Syllabus, Green sheet, Buy Your books
8-11 Website, Books, Read the introduction: pp. 3-22
Assignments, QHQ Post #1: QHQ introduction: For example, you might ask, “What does
WWI have to do with American Literature?” or “Why are we
discussing Science and Technology in a lit class?”
Tuesday Read “Modernist Manifestos” pp. 335-350
Teams Post #2 QHQ from one of the sections/authors listed:
Introduction 1914-1945 A-B: Intro
C-F: Marinetti
G-J: Loy
K-L: Pound
M-P: Cather
Q-S: Williams
T-Z: Hughes
Wednesday Read “Trifles” (1916) pp. 252-262
American Modernism Post # 3 Trifles contains several important symbols. In literature, a
Author Introduction: symbol is something that represents something else, and is often
Susan Glaspell used to communicate deeper levels of meaning. What is one
important symbol in Trifles? How does Glaspell use it to propel the
plot and convey deeper levels of meaning about her characters or
themes??
Thursday Post #4 QHQ “Trifles.” Consider its articulation with one of the
The American Dream Manifestos, if you can.
Historical Context: “Trifles” Read My Antonia (1918) Book I Introduction Chapters 1-10
Symbols, Themes, Style
2
Monday Read My Antonia (1918) Book I Chapters 11-19
April
“Trifles” Post #5: Answer one of the following prompts
15-­‐18
QHQs 1. Consider reasons why Willa Cather chose a male narrator and
Author Introduction: why women dominate the novel.
Willa Cather 2. Why do all these immigrants risk their lives to leave their
homelands and attempt to start over on a harsh prairie with little or
no money?
3. Compare and contrast the lives of Jim Burden and Antonia.
Explain what drew them together and enabled them to become close
friends.
5. Compare and contrast the relationship between Antonia and Jim
in Section 1 (Chapters 1-10) and Section 2 (Chapters 11-19)
Tuesday Read My Antonia (1918) Book II Chapters 1-8
My Antonia Post #6: Answer one of the following prompts
Historical Context 1. Discuss the contrasts that are being developed between the characters
Book II in this section.
2. Discuss the importance of independent women in this section, and wh
Willa Cather has chosen to develop these characters here.
3. Write your own QHQ. Consider Cather’s Manifesto, if you can.

2. Wednesday Read My Antonia (1918) Book II Chapters 9-15
My Antonia Post #7: Answer one of the following prompts:
Themes and Style 1. Discuss the differences Jim sees between the country girls and the
Book II 1-8 town girls.
2. Explain the importance of the dance pavilion to both
Jim and Antonia.
3. Write your own QHQ
Thursday Read My Antonia (1918) Book III Chapters 1-4 and Book
My Antonia IV Chapters 1-3
Book II 9-15 Read: Feminist Literary Criticism
Post #8: Answer one of the following prompts:
1. Explain why Willa Cather has chosen to devote one of the books
of her novel to Lena Lingard.
2. Discuss the importance of the narrator leaving Black
Hawk for college life.
3. Compare and contrast Tiny Soderballs’ and Lena Lingard’s
success with money.
4. Discuss the reasons why Willa Cather chose to have Antonia
return to the Shimerda farm as an unwed mother.
3
Read My Antonia (1918) Book V Chapters 1-3
April
Monday Post #9: Answer one of the following prompts:
22-­‐25
Feminist Literary Criticism 1. Explain Antonia’s choice of names for each of her children and
My Antonia how each of these names ties in to characters from her past.
Books III and IV 2. Discuss the differences between the Cuzak household and the
Shimerda household from many years before.
3. Write your own QHQ
Tuesday Read:
Mina
Loy
295-­‐96
My Antonia “Parturition”
296-­‐99
1914
Book V Post #10 QHQ on the reading; consider Loy’s Manifesto if you
Author Introduction would like.
Mina Loy
Wednesday Read New Criticism
Mina Loy “Parturition” Post #11
Write two paragraphs about how you might apply feminist theory to
Trifles, My Antonia, or “Parturition.”
Thursday Read:
Ezra
Pound
314-­‐315
Author Introduction: “Hugh
Selwyn
Mauberley”
and
New
Criticism
TBA
Ezra Pound: make it new! Post
#12
New Criticism 1. Discuss theme, genre, or figures of speech in the poem.
Paraphrasing Poetry 2. Discuss the style of “HSM”; consider Point of View and
How to write about Poetry Allusion
3. Paraphrase 6-10 lines from the poem. Make sure to do a section
no one else has done.

3. 4
Monday Read:
William
Carlos
William
April
“Hugh
Selwyn
Mauberley”
“In
a
Station
of
the
Metro,”
“The
Red
Wheelbarrow,”
and
29-­‐
Historical Context, Theme, “To
Elsie”
May
2
and Style Post
#13:
QHQ
on
any
one
of
the
poems
for
today’s
reading.
Author Introduction: Or
paraphrase “The Red Wheelbarrow or 6-9 lines from “To Elsie.”
William Carlos William Try to do a section no one else has done.
Tuesday Read:
Wallace
Stevens
Imagist Poetry “The
Snow
Man”
283
1923
“In
a
Station
of
the
“The
Emperor
of
Ice
Cream”
284
1923
Metro”
1913
Post
#14:
Paraphrase
either
poem.
Be
original!
“The
Red
Wheelbarrow”
Or
discuss
the
modernist
aspects
of
one
or
all
these
poems.
“To
Elsie”
Or
do
a
brief
“new
critical”
reading
of
one
poem.
Author Introduction:
Wallace Stevens
Wednesday: Lyric Poetry Study for the exam by reviewing each of the authors and texts we
“The
Snow
Man”
1923
have discussed so far.
“The
Emperor
of
Ice
Cream”
1923
Introduce
Exam
#1
Thursday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 1-5
Author Introduction: Post #15 Choose One
F. Scott Fitzgerald 1. Write a character sketch of Daisy or Tom or Jordan, focusing
Exam #1 on the recurring “tag” used to describe them. Daisy leans
forward and talks in a low voice; Tom is restless and
hulking; Jordan balances something on her chin almost in an
athletic stance. What is Fitzgerald’s purpose in thus
describing them?
2. Contrast the green light at the end of chapter 1 and the
gray images in the Valley of Ashes in chapter 2.
What thematic statement do the contrasting images reveal?
3. How can George Wilson be said to symbolize the American
Dream? Consider the Horatio Alger’s (“rags-to-riches”) motif,
as well as his undying desire to better his situation.
4. Is Nick a symbol of honesty and Jordan a symbol of dishonesty?
Write a character sketch that reveals their likenesses and
differences in terms of veracity and credibility.
5
Monday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 6-7
May
Choose new teams by Read Marxist Criticism
6-­‐9
question Post #16: Choose One
The Great Gatsby 1. Discuss how the reunion of Daisy and Gatsby signals both the
Historical Context beginning and the end of Gatsby’s dream and of his success.
Themes 2. Trace the recurring image of eyes, and ascertain the purposes of
Style those images. Consider blindness on any level as well as sight.
3. Discuss one argument that supports a feminist theory approach.

4. Tuesday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 8-9
The Great Gatsby Post #17: Choose One
Marxist Criticism 1. Some of the characters in the novel symbolize a production
ethic; others symbolize a consumption ethic. Classify the
characters accordingly, and draw a conclusion about the
American Dream, as you understand it, from Fitzgerald.
2. How is the story an ironic twist of the American Dream?
Consider Daisy and Gatsby, Daisy and Tom, Myrtle and
George Wilson, Myrtle and Tom, Nick and Jordan.
3. Discuss this quotation in terms of class theory: “This is a valley
of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into
ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the
forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally,
with a transcendent effort, of ash-gray men who move dimly and
already crumbling through the powdery air.… [And the eyes of
Doctor T. J.Eckleburg] brood on over the solemn dumping
ground” (Chapter 2).
Wednesday Read: William Faulkner 695-98
The Great Gatsby “Barn Burning” 800-12
The American Dream and Post #18 Provide a brief character analysis or
discus
a
symbol
Class. A-B: de
Spain
Writing a character analysis C-F: Sarty
Author Introduction: G-J: Abner
Snopes
William Faulkner K-L:
Lennie
Snopes
M-P: Fire
Q-S: The soiled rug
T-Z: Blood
OR,
discuss
feminist
or
Marxist
theories
in
terms
of
“Barn
Burning.”
Thursday Post #19
Film Screening Discuss a significant difference between the film and movie. Then
explain both how the change influenced the meaning of the text and
why a director might make the decision to make that change.
6
Monday Langston
Hughes
May
“Barn Burning” “The
Negro
Speaks
of
Rivers,”
“I,
too,
sing
America,”
and
13-­‐16
Historical Context, Themes, and
“The
Weary
Blues”
Style. Post
#20
Introduction: Langston 1. What
connections
can
be
made
between
race
and
blues
Hughes music
in
"The
Weary
Blues"?
2. What
do
you
think
it
means
to
have
a
soul
that
is
deep
as
rivers?
3. How
does
“I,
too,
sing
America”
make
you
think
about
what
it
means
to
be
an
American?
How
is
"America"
presented
in
this
poem,
and
how
does
it
make
you
feel
about
America?

5. Tuesday Read Zora Neale Hurston 528-30
The Harlem Renaissance “The Eatonville Anthology” 530-38
Historical Context “How it Feels to Be Colored Me” 538-541
The Poems of Langston African American (Minority) Criticism
Hughes Post #21 Choose one
Author Introduction: 1. Community is a consistent theme in the works of Zora Neale
Zora Neale Hurston Hurston and the primary bond among the smaller stories
contained in "The Eatonville Anthology." How does the image
of a front porch act as a symbol of the social concept of
community? Cite specific incidents from the story that prove
this connection.
2. How does the narrator's viewpoint direct the reader's
understanding and approval of the citizens presented in "The
Eatonville Anthology"? Discuss specific examples.
Wednesday Catch up on your reading or writing!
Zora Neale Hurston
Historical Context
POV,Themes, and Style
African American
(Minority) Criticism
Thursday Begin your essay.
Introduction to Essay #1 Post #22: Your thesis
How to write a response to Honors Group: Read Annotated Bibliography
literature. assignment
7
Monday Read “American Literature since 1945” pp. 3-19
May
Library Visit: Post #23 QHQ from introduction.
20-­‐23
Honors Group
Annotated Bibliography
Tuesday Read Ralph Ellison 206-224
American Literature since Read “The Prologue,” and “Battle Royal” from Invisible Man.
1945 Post #24 Choose one
Author Introduction: 1. What
does
the
reader
know
about
the
narrator
solely
on
Ralph Ellison the
basis
of
the
Prologue?
Explain
both
what
he
reveals
about
himself
explicitly
and
what
inferences
can
be
drawn,
justifying
your
findings
as
you
go
along.
2. Why
would
the
audience
listening
to
the
narrator’s
speech
have
reacted
so
strongly
to
the
narrator’s
mistake?
Discuss
the
implications
of
his
slip
of
the
tongue.
Wednesday Read Saul Bellow 225-226
“Battle Royale” Read From The Adventures of Augie March 227-
Author Introduction 235
Saul Bellow Post #25 QHQ

6. Thursday Read Arthur Miller pp. 236-38
The Adventures of Augie Death of a Salesman 238-303
March Post #26
Themes and Style 1. Discuss
how
Miller
communicates
Willy’s
outlook
and
Author Introduction: emotions
to
the
reader.
Note
Willy’s
words,
his
appearance,
Arthur Miller Linda’s
reactions,
the
set
design,
and
other
means.
Essay #1 due Friday at 2. Examine
how
Biff
and
Hap’s
adult
lives
show
the
influence
midnight of
their
childhood
as
seen
in
the
flashback.
3. Describe
how
Willy
has
taken
Ben’s
life
and
his
philosophy
of
the
“jungle”
as
models
for
success.
How
has
Willy
shaped
that
philosophy
to
encompass
life
as
a
salesman?
4. Linda
says
that
“attention
must
be
paid”
to
Willy
despite
his
faults.
Do
you
support
Linda’s
claim
or
disagree
with
it?
If
Willy
is
a
“fake,”
as
Biff
calls
him,
then
does
he
deserve
respect?
5. Contrast
Willy
with
Ben.
Willy
seems
to
think
that
he
leads
a
life
somehow
like
Ben’s.
Besides
the
fact
that
Ben
is
rich
and
Willy
is
not,
what
separates
them?
6. Describe
why
Willy
believes
committing
suicide
will
provide
a
better
life
for
his
family.
Will
his
plan
work?
7. Explore
the
difference
between
Biff
and
Hap’s
reactions
to
Willy’s
death.
8
Monday Holiday
May
Holiday No Class No Class
27-­‐30
Tuesday
Conferences Individual Meetings by appointment
Wednesday Read “Postmodern Manifestos” 400-17
Death of a Salesman Post #27
Historical Context Sukenick T1
Themes and Style. Gass T2
Introduce Postmodernism Thompson T3
New Teams 5-6 Olson T4
O’Hara T5
Bishop T6
Ammons T7
Lorde T8
Thursday Study for the exam by reviewing each of the authors and
Postmodernism texts we have discussed so far.
Author Intro: Jack Kerouac
9
Monday Read Jack Kerouac pp. 351-53
Exam #2 From Big Sur pp. 353-72
Post # 28: QHQ; consider postmodernism if you want.

7. Tuesday Read Lesbian, gay, and queer criticism
The Beats
Big Sur
Historical Context
Themes, Style
Wednesday Read Allen Ginsberg pp. 490-492
Queer Theory Howl and “A Footnote to Howl” pp. 492-500
Author Introduction: Post #29 QHQ
Allen Ginsberg Or paraphrase 8-10 lines from Howl.
Howl
Thursday Read Gloria Anzuldua pp. 837-38
Howl La conciencia de la mestizo/ Towards a New Consciousness
Themes; forms and devices pp. 838-49 and “El Sonavabitche” pp. 858-62
Author Introduction: Post #30 QHQ La conciencia
Gloria Anzuldua Or discuss themes or meaning in “El Sonavabitche”
Or discuss Postmodernism or Minority Theory in terms of Anzuldua