Instructor: Leah Rosenberg
MWF 3 (9:35-10:25) in Turlington room #2305
Office:4363 Turlington Hall
Office Hours: M & F 4&5 (10:40-12:35)
Email: rosenber@ufl.edu
Office phone: 392 6650 ext. 238
In 1899 the Jamaica Times inaugurated a weekly short story contest,
in order to promote the creation of Jamaican literature. In 1903,
its editor Thomas MacDermot began the All Jamaica Library, a series of
novellas and short stories written by Jamaicans about Jamaica which was
sold at reasonable prices to encourage local consumption. In fact, MacDermot
felt that it was the duty of Jamaicans to support Jamaican literature by
buying the All Jamaica Library. MacDermot’s efforts to produce a Jamaican
literature were later reproduced by other Jamaicans and by intellectuals
in other anglophone Caribbean colonies. The purpose of this course is to
critically investigate these movements to promote literature and the resulting
literary tradition in the anglophone Caribbean: how was anglophone Caribbean
literature defined? What was its purpose? Why have certain texts become
part of a regional canon and others fallen into obscurity? In order to
answer these questions, we will read a wide variety of canonical and non-canonical
literary texts starting with the turn of the century and ending with the
beginning of the 21st century. We will also study the debates Caribbean
intellectuals had about the definition and purpose of literature as well
as arguments about the nature of national literature and canon formation
outside the Caribbean.
(3) Keep a note book with notes for the class. I will not grade this
notebook unless there is a need to.
Please put your email address on the first page of your paper
Keep a copy of your paper and Exams. I will be not responsible for
the only copy of your papers.
No work will be accepted late. Contact me at least 24 hours in advance if you wish to request an extension. I may grant extensions in case of illness or multiple, conflicting deadlines. Students may also request to revise an essay; all revisions must be requested during the week you receive your graded essay and the revision is due within one week your receiving the essay.
You must complete all the work for this class – all reading, writing,
and presentations in order to pass the class.
Lamming, George. In the Castle of My Skin
Philip, Michel Maxwell. Emmanuel Appadocca
McKay, Claude. Home to Harlem
Rhys, Jean. Voyage in the Dark.
Naipaul V.S. Mystic Masseur
Hodge, Merle. Crick Crack Monkey
Cliff, Michelle. Abeng
Danticat, Edwige. The Farming of Bones
Hopkinson, Nalo. Midnight Robber.
The Caribbean Writers Summer Institute Archives are available at:
http://www.as.miami.edu/english
There are many interviews and readings by Caribbean writers that
you may be helpful to you.
University of Florida Honesty Policy Regarding Cheating and Use of Copyrighted
Materials
Academic Honesty: As a result of completing the registration form at
the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement:
"I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be
honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this
commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply
with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including
expulsion from the University."
Copyrighted Materials and Software Use: All students are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing copyrighted material and software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.
Policy Related to Make-Up Exams or Other Work- All papers and exams must be turned in on time. No late work will be accepted unless the student has asked for and been granted an extension at least 24 hours in advance of the deadline.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities - Students requesting
special accommodations must first register with the Dean of Students Office.
The Dean of Students will provide documentation to the student who must
then provide this documentation to the Instructor
when requesting accommodation.
Class Demeanor Expected by Instructor Students must be respectful of everyone in the class.
University Counseling Services- Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:
1.University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling;
2.Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling;
3.Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling
4.Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.
The instructor reserves the right to make any needed changes to this syllabus and course schedule.
** indicates that a text is in the course packet. I will put as
many of the texts as possible on reserve.
2. V.S. Naipaul’s Nobel Prize Speech
http://www.literature-awards.com/nobelprize_winners/naipaul_nobel_lecture.htm
(print the speeches out and bring them to class)
8/29 George Lamming “An Occasion for Speaking”**
(in course pack)
9/29 Yard Fiction James, C.L.R. “Triumph”
http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/colonial3b.html#james
Gomes, Albert “Local Fiction.”
Mendes, Alfred. “Commentary.”
10/1 Fiction of White Degeneracy and
Indo Trinidadians in The Beacon Mendes, Alfred. “Boodhoo”
Archibald, Kathleen. “Beyond the Horizon.”
10/3 Library Lesson meet in Library West room 148
10/13 1. Rhys, Jean. Voyage in the Dark
2. Gikandi, Simon. “Introduction: Modernism and the Origins of
Caribbean Literature.”**
10/15 Voyage in the Dark.
10/17 Panel #2 on Voyage in the Dark.Presenters:Elizabeth O.,
Lauren B., Kelly, Kathi, Carmen
10/20 Naipaul, V.S. The Mystic Masseur
10/22 The Mystic Masseur
10/24 Panel # 3 The Mystic Masseur Presenters:Anisha,
Anala, Meliss, Katherine
10/27 Midterm Due
10/29 Hodge, Merle. Crick Crack Monkey
10/31 Crick Crack Monkey
11/3 Panel #4 on Crick Crack Monkey Presenters: Allison B., Dionne,
Lori, Amanda, Irene
11/5 Boyce Davies, Carole and Elaine Savory. “Introduction: Women
and Literature in the Caribbean an Overview.” Out of the Kumbla 1-23.
Evelyn O’Callaghan. “Introduction.” From Woman Version. pp 1-16.
11/7 No Class
Class Outlines for Week Twelve
11/10 Sylvia Wynter. “Beyond Miranda’s Meanings: Unsilencing the
‘Demonic Ground of Caliban’s Woman.” Out of the Kumbla. eds Boyce
Davies and Savory. 355-372.
11/12 Cliff, Michelle. Abeng
11/14 Abeng
Class Outlines for Week Thirteen
11/17 Panel #5 on Abeng Presenters: Ty, Ching,
Michelle, La Gaye
11/19 Danticat, Edwidge. The Farming of Bones
11/21 The Farming of Bones
Class Outlines for Week Fifteen
12/1 Midnight Robber
12/3 Hopkinson, Nalo Midnight Robber
12/5 Midnight Robber Panel #7 Presenters: Jason, Cesar, Allyson
H.
12/8 Poynting, Jeremy. “Anglophone Caribbean Literature:
towards the millenium.” The Courier 174 (March-April 199): 70-72.
available as a PDF file: http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/publications/courier/courier174/en/070_en.pdf
Torres-Saillant, Silvio. “The Cross-Cultural Unity of Caribbean
Literature.” A History of Caribbean Literature v.3 ed. A. James Arnold
pp. 57-76.
12/10 Review for Final