Fachbereich 7

Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft


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Coming of Age: The Bildungsroman in Contemporary American Literature


DozentIn: Clayton Thompson, M.A.

Veranstaltungstyp: Seminar

Ort: nicht angegeben

Zeiten: Di. 10:00 - 12:00 (wöchentlich)

Beschreibung: Throughout the latter half of the twentieth and beginning of the twenty-first centuries, contemporary American literature has encompassed a variety of thematic norms and customs. In particular, the Bildungsroman, with its ability to augment individual character growth, has been a suitable medium for telling the stories of individual characters finding their ways throughout the cultural and social framework that make up contemporary America. As Sarah Graham has stated, “a classic Bildungsroman concentrates on a protagonist striving to reconcile individual aspirations with the demands of social conformity” (A History of the Bildungsroman, 2019). Therefore, the focal point of this American Studies course will be to analyze and interpret the development of literary characters in the contemporary American Bildungsroman.
The following novel will be taken up in this course:
Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex (2002)
It is recommended that students obtain a copy of Middlesex (print or eBook) and begin reading the novel as soon as possible.
Please note that this novel does contain explicitly racist terminology that might be seen as offensive. The use of this novel is in no way an attempt to condone the use of such racially charged vocabulary, but rather as a medium for acquiring a more precise analysis of the themes that are pertinent to this seminar.
In addition to the selected novel, students will be expected to read and analyze academic texts uploaded to Stud.IP. Furthermore, in order for this course to be successful, students should be prepared to actively participate in classroom discussions concerning the selected readings.
This course cannot be taken as part of the ANG-I module.


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