Required Texts:
Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin,
eds. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. New
York: Routledge, 1995.
---, eds. The Empire Strikes Back: Theory
and Practice in Post-colonial Literatures. New York:
Routledge, 1993.
Aidoo, Ama Ata. The Dilemma of a Ghost
and Anowa. London: Longman, 1965.
Churchill, Caryl. Cloud 9. New York:
Routledge, 1979.
Fugard, Athol. Statements: Three Plays.
New York: TCG, 1986.
Gilbert, Helen, and Joanne Tompkins. Post-colonial
Drama: Theory, Practice, Politics. New
York: Routledge, 1996.
Mtwa, Percy, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon.
Woza Albert! London: Methuen, 1983.
Naipaul, V. S. The Mimic Men. London:
Penguin, 1967.
Soyinka, Wole. Collected Plays 1.
Oxford: Oxford UP, 1973.
Spivak, Gayatri C. The Post-colonial Critic.
New York: Routledge, 1990. (optional).
Walcott, Derek. Dream on Monkey Mountain
and Other Plays. New York: Farrar, 1970.
Objectives:
To help students understand the ways that literature
expands their awareness of themselves and of
their relations to the world around them.
To help students read, interpret, and respond
individually and collectively to imaginative literature
more thoughtfully and meaningfully through an
examination of the elements of literature.
To familiarize students with the literature of
various periods, emphasizing the twentieth century,
of post-colonial peoples.
To help students express their thinking about
post-colonial theory, literature, and culture through
class discussion, journal entries, class presentations,
examinations, and papers.
To expose students to the culture and experience
of various post-colonial regions around the
world.
To learn how to apply various literary and critical
languages to specific texts in order to illuminate
their richness and intellectual power.
Focus:
This course focuses on post-colonial theory and
literature as represented by significant works
from different regions and historical periods.
In this course we will explore post-colonial theory
and its ramifications as well as its relationship
to other theoretical constructs such as feminism,
nationalism, and postmodernism. We will
study a body of post-colonial drama and apply theory
to literature. The focus of the course,
then, will be “literature and criticism,”linking to research,
presentation, writing, discussion, and analysis.
We will also try to get an awareness of the
literary, cultural, social, political, and economic
conditions of colonized and post-colonial peoples.
Evaluation:
9 unannounced quizzes on the texts (before discussion)
- 10%
Class presentation - 15%
Post-colonial scrapbook (research, articles, photographs,
news, words/terms/quotes and - 05%
meanings, etc.
11 journal entries responding to the readings
of each text. 2 other assigned topics
- 10%
(no less than 1 typed page per entry)
Final exam
- 20%
Research paper (MLA style, 10-15 pages) - 30%
Attendance and class participation (includes serving as class secretary for one week) - 10%
Late:
All late assignments will be penalized with a
lost of a shade of grade (B- to C+). No late
assignment will be accepted after the Friday
of the week in which assignments are to be
submitted. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENT
FOR THE QUIZ, EXAM,
JOURNAL, PRESENTATION, OR PAPER.
Groups:
Discussion will be done in small and large groups.
Course Outline:
WEEK 1: (JAN. 13 & 15) INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
OF POST-COLONIAL
THEORY AND LITERATURE
Introduction to course. Discussion
of syllabus and policies. Journal 1-Sample writing-
What I think/feel/know about post-colonialism.
Filling cards.
Background and introduction
Read PC Studies Reader General Introduction,
PC Drama Introduction, The Empire
Introduction
SIGN UP FOR PRESENTATION
WEEK 2: (20 & 22) FEMINISM AND POST-COLONIALISM/AIDOOThe
Dilemma of a
Ghost
Quiz 1 and Journal 2 on Aidoo
Read PC Studies Reader “Decolonizing Culture”
and “Under Western Eyes,” PC
Drama Chap. 3, The Empire
WEEK 3: (27 & 29) REPRESENTATION AND RESISTANCE/AIDOO
Anowa
Quiz 2 and journal 3 on Aidoo
Read PC Studies Reader “Post-colonial Literatures
and Counter-discourse,” Figures
of Colonial Resistance,” and “Unsettling
the Empire,” PC Drama Chap. 1, The
Empire Chap. 4, “African Literary Theories”
WEEK 4: (FEB. 3 & 5) POSTMODERNISM AND POST-COLONIALISM/CHURCHILL
Cloud 9
Quiz 3 and journal 4 on Churchill
Read PC Studies Reader “The Post-colonial
and the Postmodern” and
“Postmodernism or Post-colonial,” PC Drama
Chap. 6, The Empire Chap. 5
WEEK 5: (10 & 12) NATIONALISM/FUGARD
The Island
Quiz 4 and journal 5 on Fugard
Read PC Studies Reader “Nationalism” and
“Fanon,” PC Drama, The Empire Chap.
1
WEEK 6: (17 &19) HYBRIDITY/MTWA Woza Albert!
Quiz 5 and journal 6 on Mtwa
POSSIBLE RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC DUE
Read PC Studies Reader “Fossil and Psyche”
and “Cultural Diversity and Cultural
Differences,” PC Drama, The Empire Chap.
1
WEEK 7: (24 & 26) ETHNICITY AND INDIGENEITY/NAIPAUL
Quiz 6 and journal 7 on Naipaul
Read PC Studies Reader “Who is Ethnic”
and “New Ethnicities,” PC Drama Chap. 5
“Race,” The Empire Chap. 4 “Indian
Literary Theories”
WEEK 8: (MAR. 3 &5) EDUCATION/NAIPAUL
OUTLINE OF RESEARCH PAPER DUE
Read PC Studies Reader “Minute on Indian
Education,” Education and
Neocolonialism,” and “The Race for Theory,”
PC Drama, The Empire Chap. 3
WEEK 9: (10 & 12) HISTORY/SOYINKA
Quiz 7 and journal 8 on Soyinka
Read PC Studies Reader “Columbus and the
Cannibals,” “The Muse of History,”
and “Postcoloniality and the Artifice of
History,” PC Drama Chap. 3, The Empire
(17 & 19) SPRING BREAK! SPRING BREAK!! SPRING BREAK!!!
WEEK 10: (24 & 26) CONFERENCING/UNIVERSALITY
AND DIFFERENCE
Students will complete first draft of paper.
Professor will conference with students--
course, paper, performance, etc.
FIRST DRAFT OF PAPER DUE MARCH 24, 1998
(Bring two typed copies of your completed
paper, works cited included, to class for
editing arrangement. Two students
will edit your paper in class and during the
weekend)
Read PC Studies Reader “Colonialist Criticism”
and “Western Mathematics,” PC
Drama, The Empire
WEEK 11: (MAR. 31 & APRIL 2) PLACE/WALCOTT
Ti-Jean and His Brothers
Quiz 8 and journal 9 on Walcott
(Students will collect edited copies, do
corrections, and IF SO DESIRE, will request
professor's limited comments on their papers,
before submitting final copies)
Read PC Studies Reader “Writing in Colonial
Space” and “Naming Place,” PC
Drama, The Empire Chap. 4 “Caribbean Theories”
and Chap. 1 “Place and
Displacement”
WEEK 12: (7 & 9) LANGUAGE/WALCOTT Dream on
Monkey Mountain
Quiz 9 and journal 10 on Walcott
Read PC Studies Reader “The Language of
African Literature,” “New Language,
New World,” and “Nation Language,” PC Drama
Chap. 4, The Empire Chap. 2
WEEK 13: (14 & 16) THE BODY AND PERFORMANCE
Quiz 7 and journal 7 on Walker
RESEARCH PAPER DUE APRIL 16, 1998 ON OR
BEFORE CLASS TIME
Read PC Studies Reader “The Fact of Blackness”
and “In Search of the Lost Body,”
PC Drama Chap. 5, The Empire
WEEK 14: (21 & 23) PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
Read PC Studies Reader “Postcolonial Culture”
and “Literary Colonialism,” PC
Drama, The Empire
WEEK 15: (28 & 30) REVIEW
Journal 11 on My response to post-colonial
theory and literature after taking this
course/What have I learnt about post-colonial
literature/theory/culture/history? My
reaction to any issue discussed in this
course.
Resubmit your signed copies in a file/folder
on April 30, 1998.
Review
WEEK 16: (MAY 5 & 7)
5/5 No class
5/7 Reading Day
(THURSDAY, MAY 14) FINAL EXAM (2:00-4:00 GCB 1018)
AND GOOD BYE!
PLEASE BRING TWO BLUE BOOKS FOR EXAMS.
NB. Additional information/definition/clarification
will be given at different times during the
semester. Please do not hesitate to seek
my help. Good Luck!
ADDITIONAL:
1. a. Presentation 1: (10 mins)
Select an article/essay from the syllabus/list.
On a handout for the class, state complete
documentation, thesis, main and sub-points, notable
examples, conclusion, and your evaluation of
the article. Select 5-10 theories/theoretical
constructs and apply them to the play listed for that
week. Present your findings to the class
in an interesting and involved manner. Basically, I want
you to introduce interesting information/ideas
to the class, involve students in your discussion, use
teaching aids, and focus on central points.
Support your points with examples from the critical
articles and text(s). Reference to other
works can enhance presentation.
2. Research Paper:
Choose a topic that is of interest to you.
Narrow the topic so that you can focus on one area. Do
some research on your topic. At a later
stage I will tell you more about the paper. Read
handouts on paper.
Submit a typed paper no later than April 16, 1998
class time. The paper must be 10-15 pages--
including works cited page. (double space,
endnotes and works cited, MLA format, 5 secondary
sources).
3. Post-colonial Scrapbook:
By April 30, 1998, you are to submit your scrapbook
that you will be working on during the
semester. The book will consist of resourceful
materials such as post-colonial
words/terms/quotes and their meanings, news,
photographs, research findings, articles, etc.
4. Journal:
A collection of writing pieces based on your
responses to the plays/texts. We will share some of
these in class on a voluntary and rotation basis.
These are due the first Tuesdays when the
plays/texts are explored. Resubmit your
signed copies in a file/folder on April 30, 1998.
5. Quiz:
There will be 9 unannounced quizzes based on
the texts These will be given before we commence
discussion on each text. The purpose is
to ensure that you have read each assigned reading before
discussion and presentation.
6. Attendance and participation:
Attendance and participation will be graded on
a letter scale. Poor attendance always affects
grades adversely. Participation includes
serving as class secretary for one week.
7. Grade:
Your final grade will be Q x .10 + J x .10 +
P x .15 + RP x .30 + AP x .10 + PS x .05 +FE x .20
Research paper:
The research paper is a substantial work of writing
and research on a text, theme, or issue--only
on texts from syllabus. It is a semester-long
project due in its final form on April 16, 1998. It
should be 10-15 pages in length (including works
cited page, 12 point font size), and you should
consult at least 5 secondary sources.
At the core of the paper should be an original,
viable argument of your own on the text/topic you
have chosen. You should also place your
argument in the intellectual debate concerning that
work by consulting and citing secondary sources.
(Come up with your own ideas first, then use
secondary ideas).
STEPS:
As early as possible, determine which work to
concentrate on, read that work, define a topic and
preliminary thesis with my guidance, and consult
relevant secondary sources.
By week 6, declare possible paper topics, from
which you should present to me a narrowly
defined topic the following week. In the
8 th week, an outline is due and in the 10 th week a first
draft is due.
You must target a conference and a scholarly journal
for the presentation/publication of your
paper. At some point before the first draft
is due, you must submit two copies of description of
journal and conference (photocopies are accepted).
HELPFUL HINTS:
Narrow topic and use clear and well-expressed
thesis. Develop thesis.
Two spaces after every period.
A long quote is more than four lines and should
be indented 10 spaces, two tabs, or one inch.
Double space. Generally, introduce with
colon, and end with period, two spaces and source.
A short quote is four lines and less and should
be incorporated in paragraph with quotation marks
to indicate beginning and end. It ends
with quotation marks, space, source in parenthesis, and
period.
Introduce, integrate, and interact with quotes.
Vary your use of quotes and the active words
that introduce the quotes.
Place header at top right. Place works
cited on separate page.
Use cover page or its equivalent.
Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Review coherence, transition, and organization.
Document correctly all borrowed materials (Plagiarism).
Generally, use present tense when discussing
fiction.
Avoid plot summary.
Use left justification only.
Good luck!
PRESENTATION 1 EVALUATION:
1. Interesting information:
/30
Handout for the class and professor
Complete documentation, thesis, main and subpoints,
notable examples, conclusion, your
evaluation of the article, and accuracy.
Focus on central points and support of points
with examples from the critical articles/text.
2. Apply 5-10 theoretical constructs (selected
from essay) to the play listed for that week.
/10
3. Presentation of findings to the class in an
interesting/a creative/an enthusiastic manner.
/5
4. Use of teaching aids--handout, board, TV/VCR,
Tape recorder, poster, books, etc.
/5
5. Involvement of students in your presentation/discussion;
comments, questions, readings, etc. /5
6. Preparation and Research; reference to other
works and articles, textual work, etc.
/5
TOTAL /50
PERCENTAGE: .......
GRADE:
.......
As far as possible support your points with textual
examples, and document all researched
materials.
ENGLISH 6365.001 MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE:
POST-COLONIAL THEORY
AND DRAMA (FIRST DRAFT)
Seodial Deena
Spring 98
Classroom: GCB 1018
TTh 1400-1515
Office: GCB 2139
Tel. 328-6683
E-mail Deenas@mail.ecu.edu
Office hours: TTh 1230-1330 and by appointment.
Scheduled conferences with students.
CLASS PRESENTATIONS (NO MORE THAN TWO PRESENTATIONS
PER WEEK.
NO TWO STUDENTS CAN PRESENT THE SAME ARTICLE
AND NO MORE THAN
TWO STUDENTS CAN USE THE SAME PLAY)
WEEK 1: (JAN. 13 & 15) INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
OF POST-COLONIAL
THEORY AND LITERATURE
WEEK 2: (20 & 22) FEMINISM AND POST-COLONIALISM/AIDOOThe
Dilemma of a
Ghost
PC Studies Reader “Decolonizing Culture”
“Under Western Eyes”
WEEK 3: (27 & 29) REPRESENTATION AND RESISTANCE/AIDOO
Anowa
PC Studies Reader “Post-colonial Literatures
and Counter-discourse”
“Figures of Colonial Resistance”
“Unsettling the Empire”
WEEK 4: (FEB. 3 & 5) POSTMODERNISM AND POST-COLONIALISM/CHURCHILL
Cloud 9
PC Studies Reader “The Post-colonial and the
Postmodern”
“Postmodernism or Post-colonial”
WEEK 5: (10 & 12) NATIONALISM/FUGARD
The Island
PC Studies Reader “Nationalism”
“Fanon”
WEEK 6: (17 &19) HYBRIDITY/MTWA Woza Albert!
PC Studies Reader “Fossil and Psyche”
“Cultural Diversity and Cultural Differences”
WEEK 7: (24 & 26) ETHNICITY AND INDIGENEITY/NAIPAUL
PC Studies Reader “Who is Ethnic”
“New Ethnicities”
WEEK 8: (MAR. 3 &5) EDUCATION/NAIPAUL
PC Studies Reader “Minute on Indian Education”
“Education and Neocolonialism”
“The Race for Theory”
WEEK 9: (10 & 12) HISTORY/SOYINKA
PC Studies Reader “Columbus and the Cannibals”
“The Muse of History”
“Postcoloniality and the Artifice of History”
(17 & 19) SPRING BREAK! SPRING BREAK!! SPRING BREAK!!!
WEEK 10: (24 & 26) CONFERENCING/UNIVERSALITY
AND DIFFERENCE
PC Studies Reader “Colonialist Criticism”
“Western Mathematics”
WEEK 11: (MAR. 31 & APRIL 2) PLACE/WALCOTT
Ti-Jean and His Brothers
PC Studies Reader “Writing in Colonial Space”
“Naming Place”
WEEK 12: (7 & 9) LANGUAGE/WALCOTT Dream on
Monkey Mountain
PC Studies Reader “The Language of African Literature”
“New Language, New World”
“Nation Language”
WEEK 13: (14 & 16) THE BODY AND PERFORMANCE
PC Studies Reader “The Fact of Blackness”
“In Search of the Lost Body”
WEEK 14: (21 & 23) PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
PC Studies Reader “Postcolonial Culture”
“Literary Colonialism”
WEEK 15: (28 & 30) REVIEW