120059 PS Introductory Seminar Literature: "Trust thyself" (2008W)

"What is an American?" This question was raised by the author J.Hector St.John Crèvecoeur in his Letters from an American Farmer at the end of the 18th century, a text which is both a historical report and a fictional representation of "the American character." There was to be heated debate about this issue amongst the most varied spokespeople of American intellectual or social life from the 1830ies onwards. Through prose, poetry, essays, both philosophical and documentary, as well as so-called "appeals" or autobiographical writings, Americans strove to find answers to this, the "big question." In this class we shall deal with texts which elucidate aspects of individualism, nationalism, ethnicity, gender and religion. Our objective will be to become cognizant of the multiplicity of voices exploring and co-creating American selves.