CMLIT 5Introduction to Literatures of the Americas

3 credits · Comparative Literature · Penn State

Comparative interpretation of the oral and written literary traditions of North, Central, and South America. CMLIT 5 Introduction to Literatures of the Americas (3) (GH;US;IL)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. CMLIT 5 , Introduction to Literatures of the Americas, allows you to explore the great variety of literatures of the Americas, including translations of texts written in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Amerindian languages, as well as texts originally written in English. Readings include many genres and artistic forms dealing with histories and accounts of "American" issues, such as conquest, nationalism, slavery, diaspora, and immigration. You will also consider the various influences among these traditions in terms of time period and genre. This course investigates the literary and cultural notion of "America," and what it means to be "American," in terms of the entire hemisphere. We will deal with issues of race, ethnicity, class, religion, as well as other vital concerns of identity and "Americanness" as reflected in both oral and written literary traditions through the history of the Americas. At the conclusion of this course, you should be able to understand and make - comparisons among the many "American" literary traditions. This course fulfills requirements for the Comparative Literature major, the World Literature minor, General Education Humanities, Bachelor of Arts Humanities, and General Education United States and International Competency.