Native American Writings of Memory and Self 4219-SC004

In contrast to "Beginning American Literature: American Indian Writings of Origin and Continuance" which focused mainly on oral tradition, the course’s aim is to present Native American autobiographies, journals and memoirs written in English. Through thorough analysis of the discussed works students will observe the change in purpose, style and attitude of the authors, and reflect on how they situate themselves in mainstream literature, depending on time and socio-political context they were writing in.
The course, assuming a chronological order, will be divided into three parts. The first will look at autobiographical writings of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th century. as first attempts at using English learnt at mission and government schools, to record Native experience. Written as a response to the encroaching white world, the works of Samson Occom, William Appes, Zitkala-Sa and Ohyiesa are often a combination of autobiography, and history of a given writer’s people after first contact. The second part will discuss the literary output of the first wave of Native American Renaissance, a movement that brought into being first writings of pride and celebration of native uniqueness. The works of Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday, Simon Ortiz and Leslie Marmon Silko, in which traditional stories intertwine with childhood memories and family histories reconstructed from both oral accounts and imagination, will be the focus. And finally the third part, in which firmly established native voices recount personal yet universal stories of identity formation, searching for roots and discovering family secrets. Sherman Alexie, Thomas king and Louise Erdrich share their experiences of love, parenthood, maturing and death, which, though common to human experience gain unique dimension when filtered through native philosophy.
The course will be best appreciated by 2nd and 3rd year students who have attended "Beginning American Literature: American Indian Writings of Origin and Continuance", and who are already familiar with specificity of native writing. The course, however, stands perfectly well on its own.
Topics covered:
- Key concepts - American Indian literature,
- Indianness
- tradition/roots
- assimilation/acculturation
- ethnicity
- oral tradition
- Native American Renaissance

Syllabus:
1. Introduction to the course
2.,3.,4. First autobiographies: William Apess: The Son of the Fores; Zitkala-Sa: American Indian Stories; Black Elk: Black Elk Speaks
5.,6.,7. Autobiographical essays: Diane Glancy, Paula Gunn Allen, Simon Ortiz, Wendy Rose, Louis Owens, et al.
8.,9.,10. Memoirs: Sherman Alexie: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me; Thomas King: The Truth About Stories, Leslie Marmon Silko: Storyteller
11.,12., 13.Travelogues: N. Scott Momaday: The Way to Rainy Mountain; Louise Erdrich: Books and Islands in the Ojibway; LeAnne Howe: Choctalking on Other Realities
14. Presentations + Course wrap-up