Department of English

Topic: Misfits, Monsters, and Masterpieces

This course will examine the topic of what it means to "fit in" and to fail (or refuse) to fit in. There is perhaps no older topic in literature than the figure who needs to stand out (the epic hero, the villain) as well as the figure who desperately wants to be a part of society but is not allowed entry. We'll read across a range of genres, beginning with Shakespeare's Othello, before moving on to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth, Art Spiegelman's co-mix masterpiece Maus Parts 1 and 2; Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley. We'll do deep-dives into these texts, and apply different models of critical interpretation to uncover what's most powerful and moving about each. What elements of society “makes” monsters? We’ll also pursue the question of what is it about a particular text that makes it relevant across time periods. Students will write three essay-exams. Attendance and participation will count for a significant portion of your grade.

• A&H
• What are CASE requirements?