ENG 111 - The Marginalized, Monsters and Me (W) (1)

This is a course about reading, thinking, and writing about the individual and society’s influence on the individual. The course will examine the notion of “normalcy”-relating to writing, reading and society generally. Social constructs such as race and gender often lead to the creation of social outcasts, “monsters.” Further, such constructs can lead individuals to loathe portions of themselves and create “personal monsters” which they attempt to repress. Literature, particularly the gothic, examines the influence of such constructs on both society and the individual, and often examines the relationship between social oppression and psychological repression. This course will analyze various works that depict the creation of both social and personal monsters and the social context, particularly in the United States, that led and lead to such creations. Writing, research, presentations and discussions will lead students to think critically about the various texts as well as relate such works to their own personal and cultural experiences. Not open to students who have previously completed a First-Year Writing Course.
(First Year Writing Seminar (FYW)) (Humanities)