ENGL 114(F) Literary Speakers (W)
The general purpose of this course is to develop students' skills as interpreters of
poetry and short fiction. Its particular focus is on how-and with what effects-
poets create the voices of their poems, and fiction writers create their narrators.
We'll consider the ways in which literary speakers inform and entice, persuade
and sometimes deceive, their audiences. Readings will include texts from various historical periods, with particular emphasis on the twentieth century (including works by James Joyce, Henry James, Vladimir Nabokov, Robert Frost, Toni
Cade Bambara, Raymond Carver, and Seamus Heaney).
Format: discussion/seminar. Requirements: a discussion class with emphasis on
close reading and frequent, careful writing (about 20 pages, in the form of short
papers).
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19). Preference given to first-
year students.