ENG 243 Native American Autobiography

This course will introduce students to a new way of seeing the world they live in as they read the lives of Native Americans written by themselves. Autobiographies studied will range from early historical works narrated and translated by anthropologists to modern works by Linda Hogan and N. Scott Momaday. These texts will be studied in their historical contexts, as well as their cultural contexts. Speakers and films will play an important role in this course. The goal of the class is to present a fuller picture of the voices and visions of Native Americans.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Discuss the interconnectedness of culture, literary works, and anthropology
2. Understand the importance of studying the personal along with traditional ways of seeing
3. Use critical thinking skills to understand the effects of race and gender on society
4. Distinguish between connotation and denotation and demonstrate how connotative language helps shape major aspects of the literary tradition
5. Demonstrate ability to use interpretive frameworks to investigate contextual meanings of literature