Homer's Odyssey, Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Equiano's The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, the African, all share a narrative structure: in each, an individual leaves home for "new" worlds, landscapes that test the adventurer's capacity to suffer, survive, and sometimes, conquer. This course will look at a series of narratives of discovery, including literary works (The Odyssey, Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, Walcott's Omeros), non-fiction texts (Harriot's A Brief and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, the African, and other travel and captivity narratives), and a contemporary film. Our discussions will examine the founding assumptions of these narratives: how does each represent "home," the "individual," the "new" world and its inhabitants, the value and aim of the journey? We will also speculate about the relation of these narratives to broader cultural projects like nation-building and colonial expansion and conquest. The course will simultaneously focus on developing students' critical skills. Requirements: four or five short formal essays, including at least one revision; short informal writing assignments; and one group oral presentation. Prerequisite: a 100-level English course, except 150. Enrollment limit: 18 (expected: 18).