230585 Early American Women's Writing: From True Woman to New Woman (S) (WiSe 2007/2008)

In this seminar we will take a close look at a significant shift in American Women¿s Writing towards the end of the 19th century: the perception and depiction of womanhood.

We will compare texts written within a time span of roughly 50 years by such divergent female authors as Louisa May Alcott, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Edith Wharton.
Topics for class discussion are the different attitudes towards female autonomy, self-reliance, matrimony and female sexuality as expressed in the works.

The set texts will be supplemented by background information on historical, social and political contexts to provide broader understanding.

Apart from attendance and reading 4 Response Papers are obligatory (1 page each, to be handed in over the course of the term).

Project presentations in class are a way of earning Credit Points as well as term papers.