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COURSE NUMBER: ENGL 399
COURSE TITLE: Special Topics in English -2007/08 Winter - The Sun Never Sets: Introduction to Postcolonial Literature
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Dr Philip Mingay
CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A course on a topic of figure of special interest to a member of the English faculty and offered on a non-recurring basis.

Prerequisites: ENGL 204, 205

2007/08 Winter

Although the field of postcolonial studies is relatively new, it has already produced an impressive body of literature and criticism for examining how British colonialism and imperialism have shaped the modern world. This course is intended to introduce the student to the key English literary texts and theoretical concerns in this ongoing discourse, including questions about race, nation, gender, and cultural identity. We will also address the historical role Christian theology played in colonialism, as well as its place in recuperative strategies of nationhood and equality. We will study novels, films, and other media, from sources as varied as Canada, India, the Caribbean, Africa, and Great Britain.   
REQUIRED TEXTS:
  • Achebe, Chinua.  Things Fall Apart  (Heinemann).
  • Conrad, Joseph.  Heart of Darkness ( Broadview, 2nd ed)
  • Kincaid, Jamaica.  A Small Place ( Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
  • Narayan, RK.  The Man-eater of Malgudi (Penguin)
  • Smith, Zadie.  White Teeth (Penguin)
MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:
Essay One 20%
Essay Two (Research) 30%
Library Assignment 10%
Presentation/Participation 10%
Final Examination 30%
100%

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The classes will incorporate both lecture and discussion formats. I will introduce each text and its critical background, and then as a class we will examine the text in detail, as well as any supplementary texts. This means that you must attend class, keep up with the readings, and be prepared to contribute to class discussions. It would be useful for you to note what you believe are significant sections from the texts, and how they may contribute to our understanding of the course as a whole.
 
Class participation is essential to the intellectual progression of the class. I expect you to attend class regularly and be prepared with specific questions and concerns so that we can examine the texts in detail. As well, you will be expected to support your classmates' presentations by asking productive questions and contributing to our understanding of each presentation's topic.
COURSE OUTLINE:
  • Introduction/Syllabus Distribution
  • Introduction to Postcolonialism
    • essays on reserve
  • The Canon and Its Legacy
    • Conrad, Heart of Darkness
  • Colonial Responses to Christianity
    • Achebe, Things Fall Apart
  • The Caribbean Experience
    • Kincaid, A Small Place
  • Jewel in the Crown
    • Narayan, The Man-eater of Malgudi
  • Tradition and Gender
    • Whale Rider
  • The New Metropolis
    • Smith, White Teeth
  • Media and Multiculturalism
    • Bend it Like Beckham
  • Review


Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.

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