ENGL 358(S) Violence and Narrative

Postmodern, anti-humanist theorists are now saying these inflammatory things about narrative itself: that it is death-oriented (Peter Brooks), violence driven (Leo Bersani), given over to control and domination (D. A. Miller, Nancy Armstrong). Two critics, using Jane Austen as their counter-intuitive example, go so far as to venture that violence outside of texts (such as warfare) cannot be distinguished from the violence of texts. This is not to say that some texts are violent; it is to say that writing and reading are necessarily violent. We shall test this set of notions. Readings will include essays by the theorists just mentioned and a few theorists of violence and control per se (Clausewitz, Foucault, Scarry). The primary texts will include a few chosen for their violence (probably including "Joshua" or "Judges," parts of The Iliad, Crane's The Red Badge of Courage, Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and works by such authors as Hemingway, Faulkner, and Cather), and one chosen for its apparent tranquility (by Henry James or Jane Austen). Requirements: a short paper and 15-20 page term paper. Major Seminar. Open only to English majors and to qualified non-majors. Permission of English Department chair required; see information above. Enrollment limited to 15. (Criticism)

Hour:  LIMON