English 218 - War in Words: Literature of WWI

During World War I, soldiers wrote poetry directly from the trenches. The Great War, which saw the introduction of new technologies and human casualties on a scale unprecedented in history, has been called a “literary war” (Fussell). This course introduces students to World War I literature on both the frontlines and the homefront. We will discuss the complexity of representing war experience in words, with particular attention played to trauma and so-called “shell shock.” In addition to consulting works that document the violent shocks of war, we will also examine texts that only subtly, quietly, or obliquely register the war’s reverberations. We will also consider how war writing intersects with social and cultural concerns, with particular attention paid to gender and colonialism.  Primary texts may include Mulk Raj Anand’s Across the Black Waters, Edmund Blunden’s Undertones of War, Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, Rebecca West’s The Return of the Soldier, and Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. 

Limited to 25 students. Fall semester. Professor Abramson.

How to handle overenrollment: If over-enrolled prioritize first and second years as well as English majors.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on class discussion and close reading, written work, in-class Blue book writing/exam.