American Literature I

This class has a 3-week beginning in Puritanism, using a text edited by Prof. Delbanco himself. It picks up as soon as it gets to the Founding Fathers of politics (Franklin, Jefferson) and thought (Emerson, Thoreau). Prof. Delbanco's lectures are full of info, witty, and create a good blend of "standard interpretation" and "Delbancoism". Prof. Delbanco is a NYT Best Seller ("The Death of Satan" and "Required Reading") as well as an intellectual ("The Portable Abraham Lincoln" and "The Puritans in America"). Two short papers (3-4 pages), a midterm exam (it was painless), and the choice of final (tough) or long paper (8-10 pages). There were 3 TAs in Fall '00 who ran the MANDITORY discussion sections, but even if your TA is a waste of time, Delbanco's lectures are definitely not. Also on the syllabus are Poe, Stowe, Douglass, Whitman, and selected tales of Hawthorne and Melville (i.e. you don't read "Scarlet Letter" or "Moby Dick"). The grading is done by TAs, so there's a chance for "tough" grades, but I was personally happy with my final grade. A must for English majors and an intensive elective for those in any way interested in American literature.