HONR259J

A society's literature provides a fascinating window into the aspirations and priorities of its people. This course uses works of literature as primary documents to gain insight into major themes, trends, and ideas in American history, with a special focus on the conflicting visions of the "American Dream" and ways in which diverse Americans embarked on journeys in pursuit of that dream. Through a thorough analysis of these books and contextualization of the works within their historical setting, we will assess how contemporary Americans understood and reacted to important historical controversies within a pluralistic democracy, and how key social, cultural, and political issues were interrogated and contested in literature as well as the broader society.