This course explores the evolution of American literary expression from its earliest moments to the present day. Students will examine works of fiction, poetry, essays, and drama while gaining an understanding of the social and historical contexts that shaped American writing.

• The Precolonial, Colonial and Early National Period (Beginnings–1800)
• The Romantic Period (1800–1865)
• The Period of Realism and Naturalism (1865–1910)
• The Modernist Period (1910–1945)
• The Contemporary Period (1945–Present)