Students use the digital mapping tool Locast to plot key points to aid their literary analysis of Moby-Dick. The virtual map is shown here alongside a printed illustration of the Pequod's voyage. (© Google maps data on left and © Harris-Seybold map on right. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.)
Instructor(s)
Wyn Kelley
MIT Course Number
21L.501
As Taught In
Spring 2013
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
- Assignments: activity (no examples)
- Assignments: presentations (no examples)
- Assignments: written with examples
- Instructor insights
Course Description
This course covers works by major American novelists, beginning with the late 18th century and concluding with a contemporary novelist. The class places major emphasis on reading novels as literary texts, but attention is paid to historical, intellectual, and political contexts as well. The syllabus varies from term to term, but many of the following writers are represented: Rowson, Hawthorne, Melville, Twain, Wharton, James, and Toni Morrison. Previously taught topics include The American Revolution and Makeovers (i.e. adaptations and reinterpretation of novels traditionally considered as American "Classics"). May be repeated for credit with instructor's permission so long as the content differs.
Other Versions
Other OCW Versions
OCW has published multiple versions of this subject. 
Archived versions: 