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Should I take Amer. Lit before the Civil War or after the Civil War? I like Hemmingway, but that's not enough reason to choose the latter. But on the other hand, the class that would hold my interest more would probably be the latter. They may be enough reason. But what will I be missing? (only 1 is required). Maybe take a World Lit instead? (reason: high interest in foreign policy and other cultures) ???Many of these Gen Ed. courses are 16 weeks, except the Western Civs (which I wish were 16 weeks instead of 8). Here's the plan: after and if I survive this math and writing class, science is next (16 weeks). I wanted to take an 8 week course like Western Civ with it. If it killed me, then I won't take another 8 wk class for the remainder of science. I want to concentrate and really learn from WC, so I sort of want to take that alone. I thought the literature classes were only 8 weeks. I know it's a bad attitude, but science, lit, and math I just want to get out of the way before I get into the good stuff like polisci and history (and anthropology). Maybe just take the science and lit course together? (to get them out of the way)I wish I could take them all, but that might get a tad bit expensive.
Is this a Civil War literature class or a history class? I would think that if it's a history class it would be better to take it first because then if you take American literature you'll have an historical context for the books – Red Badge of Courage or whatever else you might read.However, I would prefer a world literature class over an American literature class, at least to start out. As long as there's nothing weird inserted in there to read, you'll likely read more seminal books than you would if you just confined it to American literature.
It's a choice of 2 lit classes. Amer Lit before the Civil war or Amer Lit after the Civil War. (history courses are separate)Interesting what you said about World Lit. I haven't checked out the book yet, so I don't know if there's anything weird. Choices are World lit through the Rennaisance or since the Rennaisance.Scheduling conflict though. Science starts in Dec and only one lit class starts at the same time. (one of the downfalls of an online school, there are no regular semesters)
Then that's interesting that there's a class on Civil War literature. Oh wait, now I get it. Pre-Civil War American literature or Post-Civil War. Gotcha. Well, I have a bias toward taking things in chronological order, so I'd go with the Pre-CW. However, if as you say only one is required, the most intersting and important books within American lit would most likely be Post-CW. So if it's an either/or situation, I'd do the Post-CW.As for the World Literature, I would take the pre-Renaissance class. You have some seriously fundamental books written/told before the Renaissance (The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Beowulf, The Divine Comedy) which I believe provide quite a basis for much of Western thought. I'm guessing that your class won't read all of these books, but only excerpts or summaries of them, right? If so, then it will be even easier to take the class. Besides, the Trojan War and other events of these books are pretty interesting.And by "weird" I meant that if they tried to slip in some non-essential non-European book into your curriculum simply to make the syllabus more diverse....the most crucial world literature books before the Renaissance are all European if you ask me.
Take American Lit before the Civil War. You'll get exposed to Nathaniel Hawthorne, James Fenimore Cooper, William Bradford, Ben Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, Edgar Allen Poe, and so forth. Much of the literature is religious in nature or Gothic. Fun fun. Of course I'm a Civil War buff, but antebellum literature is very important to understanding the American mind at its genesis, which would help you understand post Civil War America better for the contrast in mentality if nothing else.
Yeah but if he takes only one or the other then he'll be missing out on all the great post-CW authors…Hemmingway, Falkner, Twain, Salinger, etc. If he wants a more “relevant” education then the more recent books will do it. But, I do agree with your argument for the pre-CW authors as well.
Either one will be good. I just think most people skip out on the earlier American time periods because they are a little harder to grasp.
Here's the deal. Currently the only course that starts in Dec is post-Civil war so I will most likely go with that. (sometimes they add often, I noticed, so I'll keep an eye on it). I do like pre-Civil War for the facts that Donnie mentioned, but I do like post-Civil War because it will hit on the literature written during the major wars (and the nutcase 60's era)Thanks for all your help and input. 🙂
I think I'm taking the Western Civ classes. I and II fit the schedule and they will be interesting classes. I decided to go to school, so I have to work at it if I want this. I ain't no spring chicken, and don't want to take too long to get a degree. With every 16 week course, I'll take two 8 week courses. I'll save the 16 week Lit class for another time. I'll let you know how it's going when I get to the 300+ level courses. 😮
Well I decided to take and have started Amer Lit after the Civil War. 16 weeks long. YUK!!! I do not like poetry nor do I care that Walt Whitman used both Romanticism and Realism in his writing.(I need to adjust my attitude with this class! 🙂
That's brave of you. Have you had previous literature courses? It's pretty fun to do because you're reading stories. You'll have to tell us which novels you'll be reading.
