LIT 4192/Section 3330 Anglophone Caribbean Literature: Its History & Debates

Instructor: Leah Rosenberg
W 9-11 TUR 2336 Office:4363 Turlington Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday 12-2 and Wednesday 1-2
Email: rosenber@ufl.edu
Office phone: 392 6650 ext. 238

In The Pleasures of Exile, his 1960 analysis of anglophone Caribbean culture, George Lamming asserted that the emergence of “a dozen or so novelists in the British Caribbean... between 1948 and 1958” was one of the three most important historical developments in the region, the other two being “the discovery” of the Americas and the abolition of slavery and the subsequent importation of indentured labor. These new writers, he asserted, invented anglophone Caribbean literature “without any previous native tradition to draw on.” This is a startling claim given the fact that short stories, novels, and poetry written by anglophone Caribbeans were published by local newspapers and by metropolitan presses since the 19th century. The goal of this course is to investigate canon formation in the anglophone Caribbean and in so doing to place Lamming’s claims in the context of a history of debates over the definition and purpose of literature in the Caribbean. In addition to these debates, we will examine a broad variety of canonical and non-canonical literary texts. Authors will likely include: George Lamming, V.S. Naipaul, Merle Hodge, Nalo Hopkinson, and Jean Rhys.
 

Goals and Objectives:

1. To provide a survey of the history of anglophone Caribbean literature.
2. To address the theoretical question of how literary canons are formed with reference to the Anglophone Caribbean and English literary canons.  Why are specific texts included while other excluded from scholarship and teaching?  What is the definition and purpose of literary texts?
3. To evaluate the critical reception of the literary texts we read.  We will evaluate the place of each novel we read in the anglophone Caribbean literary canon by examing the extent and nature of its critical reception.
4. To provide students with the research skills necessary to evaluate the critical reception of literary texts in general and of Caribbean texts in particular.
 

Requirements:

Attendance, Participation, Journal (30%)
(1) Attendance
More than two absences will lower your grade. Two latenesses=one absence. Missing more than six fifty-minute periods (2 weeks) will result in failure in the course. If you are late, come up after class and inform me, so that I can add you to the attendance for the day. If you miss class you are responsible for the material covered in class and for knowing the assignment for the next class. You may to get the email or phone number of other class members to contact if you miss class.
(2) Participation
Read the material, think about it, take notes and be ready to discuss it. You may be asked to focus on a particular aspect or section of the reading. Participation also includes contributing to the course by interacting with other people and their ideas. So listen attentively and respond thoughtfully. Think about how you might draw other class members into the conversation. If you are very quiet, think about how to contribute more regularly. If you talk a great deal, focus on learning how to encourage other students to participate.

(3) Journal
Each week you will have a short writing assignment. This will either be a question or questions you will need to answer at home, in class, or a combination of the two.  Please keep a folder with these assignments as some will be handwritten in class.

Exams (30%)
Midterm (take home) (20%) see Questions.
Final  (10%)

Panel Presentation (10%) See description.

Papers (30%)
Paper #1 The significance of In the Castle of My Skin in the Anglophone Caribbean literary tradition.  Topics
Paper #2 is based on your panel-presentation
It is will be 6-10 pages long. The assignment includes the one-page presentation-paper and a paper proposal. Description of Paper Proposal
Please put your email address on the first page of your paper Essay Questions.
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.
Books you need to buy at Goerings (1717 NW 1 Ave, 377 3707):

Lamming, George. In the Castle of My Skin 
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. 
Green Cane and Juicy Flotsam: Short Stories by Caribbean Women  eds. Carmen C. Esteves and Lizabeth Paravisin-Gebert (late order)
Lovelace, Earl. Salt (late order)

Other readings will be available via e-reserve under the reserve section of the library website.  I will provide a list of these readings on the class website.

There are two texts that you will need to make arrangements to photocopy: Becka’s Buckra Baby by Thomas MacDermot  and a few short stories by Seepersad Naipaul.

The Caribbean Writers Summer Institute Archives are available at: http://scholar.library.miami.edu/cls/CWSIMainPage.php

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.

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. 
 

Reading Schedule

Week 1 Introduction to Anglophone Caribbean Literature

1/5   Brathwaite, Kamau “History, the Caribbean and the imagination”
from Caribbean Writers Summer Institute (http://scholar.library.miami.edu/cls/speakersDisplay.php)
“Atumpan”   “Calypso”

    George Lamming   “Journeys”  http://scholar.library.miami.edu/cls/speakersDisplay.php
 

Week 2 In the Castle of my Skin A Foundational Novel of the 1950s

Study Questions for Week Two

1/12  1. Lamming, George. In the Castle of my Skin
      2  Brathwaite, L.E. (Kamau). “The New West Indian Novelists” Parts I & II I Bim 8,31:199-210
II 8,32-271-80. (on e-reserve)
 

Week 3 Building Canonical Foundations Debates and Definitions

Study Questions for Week Three

1/19
 1. Lamming, George.  The Occasion for Speaking.”  From his book, Pleasures of Exile
2. POSTPONED Wynter, Sylvia. “Reflections on W.I. Writing and Criticism.” parts I & II. Jamaica Journal 2:4(December 1968):22-31 and 3:1 (March 1969)27-42.
 3. Derek Walcott’s Nobel Prize Speech
http://www.literature-awards.com/nobelprize_winners/derek_walcott.htm
4. 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)
 

 Week 4: West Indian Literature before Lamming

Study Questions for Week Four

1/24  Paper #1 Due  topics
1/26
James, C.L.R. “Triumph” e-reserve
Gomes, Albert “Local Fiction.” e-reserve
Mendes, Alfred. “Commentary,” “Boodhoo,” e-reserve
 

Week 5: Calypso and the Canon

Notes on Yard Fiction

Study Questions for Week Five

missing page of "Spoiler's Return"

2/2
1. Selvon, Sam. "The Calypsonian." handout
2. Walcott, Derek.  "The Spoiler's Return." handout
3.  Eagleton, Terry.  “The Rise of English.” e-reserve
4. Guillory, John.  “Canon” e-reserve

please listen to thesecalypsos   (Use  Internet Explorer)
 

Week 6  Anglophone Caribbean Literature and the Harlem Renaissance

Week Six Questions  and research presentation assignment

2/9
1. McKay, Claude. Home to Harlem
2. --- "If We Must Die."  on-line

Week 7  An Alternative Caribbean modernism

Week Seven Questions and Introduction

2/16  Rhys, Jean. Voyage in the Dark
      Original Ending  e-reserve

Week 8 The Naipauls

Please note change in mid term dates. The exam will be distributed on 2/23 and due by 5 pm on 3/12.

Week Eight Questions

2/23  1. Naipaul, Seepersad.   The Adventures of Gurudeva  (xerox excerpts)
        2.  Naipaul, V.S. The Mystic Masseur available at Goerings

Week 9  Spring Break 26 February – 5 March

Week 10 The Beginning of an Afro-Caribbean Women’s Literary Tradition?

3/9  9:00 am  journal entry due
Hodge, Merle. Crick Crack Monkey
Boyce Davies, Carole and Elaine Savory. “Introduction: Women and Literature in the Caribbean an Overview.” Out of the Kumbla 1-23.

3/12  Mid term due

 Week 11

Please note change in assignment

1. Exam due on Saturday 3/12 via email by 5 pm.

2. Reading
on e-reserve “Introduction: Women and Literature in the Caribbean”

3. In Green Cane and Juicy Flotsam (If this is just too much reading, pick fewer stories but be sure to read them well)

 1. Poem by Pamela Mordecai p. xi (first page of introduction)
 2.  Conde, Maryse.  “Three Women in Manhattan.” 56
 3. Espinet, Ramabai “Barred.” p.80
 4. Ferre, Rosario.  “The Poisoned Story.”
 5. Roemer, Astrid “Lola or the Song of Spring.” 180
 6. Hernandez, Angela. “How to Gather the Shadows of the Flowers.” 104.

Response via email due by 9 am Wednesday:  1-2 paragraphs written response.  Choose one short story.   (1) Explain why you’ve chosen this story – what you find important about it.  (2) What important connections or distinctions do you see between this story and the others?
 

Week 12

Questions for Week Twelve

Evelyn O’Callaghan. “Introduction.” From Woman Version. pp 1-16. E-reserve
         2. Cliff, Michelle. Abeng
 

Week 13 Haitian Writers and the Anglophone Caribbean Literary Tradition

Questions for Week Thirteen

3/30  Danticat, Edwidge. The Farming of Bones
 

Week 14 Questions of Genre: Caribbean Science Fiction

Information about  getting to and using Vista
 

4/6 Hopkinson, Nalo. Midnight Robber
Assignment:  Post a message to the course discussion board on our new Vista site.  Go to the URL: lss.at.ufl.edu
and type in your Gatorlink username and password and then the course number LIT 4192.  You will need to have the proper version of Java as well as a browser that VISTA supports, so please click on the information sheet above to get information about these.

Week 15

Questions for Week Fifteen

4/13  Lovelace, Earl. Salt
 

Week 16 Conclusions What is anglophone Caribbean Literature?

4/20 Final Exam due and Discussion of the exam in class