**This class will be taught In-Person**
Metamorphosis can be painful, exhilarating, confusing, or some combination thereof. In these six masterpieces of the short story genre, we will explore how writers from diverse backgrounds portray the complexity of personal transformation. Starting with James Joyce’s stunning 1914 story “The Dead” and ending with Edwidge Danticat’s devastating 1995 short story “The Children of the Sea,” this course traces how the short story form is particularly suited to depictions of transformation. Students will learn about the historical, social, and cultural context of each story, practice literary close reading skills, and develop an understanding of the conventions of the short story genre.
Stories will be provided to students as pdfs.
Week by Week Outline
Week 1: Introduction to the Short Story Genre; James Joyce, “The Dead” (1914)
Week 2: James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues” (1957)
Week 3: Bharati Mukherjee, “A Wife’s Story” (1988)
Week 4: Sandra Cisneros, “Woman Hollering Creek” (1991)
Week 5: Sherman Alexie, “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock” (1993)
Week 6: Edwidge Danticat, “Children of the Sea” (1995)
