EN425 The Lost Girls: Modernist Women Writers

EN425 The Lost Girls: Modernist Women Writers - Paris of the 1920s

Dr. Gloria D. Bunnell

103B Painter Hall; Office Phone 329-7172

Office Hours: T,Th 8:30-11:00, W 3:30-4:30, By Appointment

Texts: See attached list.

Course Content: This course is a study of the lives and works of American expatriate women writers who lived and wrote in Paris, France during the early part of the 20^th century. Focus is on the exploration of these women’s contributions to both the literary history and the literature of the Modernist period as well as the political, geographical, and cultural milieu in which these writers flourished.

Goals: To acquaint students with those expatriate women writers who were a part of the

Modernist movement

To provide knowledge of the cultural environment which led to these women’s

expatriation in Paris, France

To create an awareness of these women’s place in Modernism and their

contributions to literary history and the Modernist movement

To acquaint students with the works of these expatriate women writers

To provide historic perspective on the literary time period

To enhance critical thinking skills and exploration of ideas

Course Requirements:

1. Research Paper and Oral Presentation: Each student will complete a ten (10) to

fifteen (15) page research paper on a topic of historical or literary importance to the

period chosen from a list provided by the instructor and will present an oral

presentation on the topic.

2. Two Shorter Papers: Each student will complete two shorter papers (3 to 5 pages

each) on one of the works that we will be covering in the class and one in response to

a work read outside of class from a list of works provided by the instructor pertinent to

the time and/or place.

3. Final Exam

4. Class Participation and Discussion: Each student will prepare a question to ask the

class for each of the works we will be covering in the class to enhance class discussion

and will be expected to participate in all class discussions and activities.

Method of Evaluation:

Research Paper – 25% and Oral Presentation – 10% (Total 35%)

Shorter Papers – 15% each (Total 30%)

Final Exam – 25%

Class Participation – 10%

Grading Scale: 100-92=A, 91-83=B, 82-74=C, 73-65=D, 64=F

Note: All written work is required to be correct in language usage, mechanics, and spelling. Grades on assignments, including tests, and oral usage in oral presentations, will reflect this requirement.

Attendance: All students are required to attend class regularly. The policy of the Languages, Literature, and Philosophy Department is that students must attend at least 75% of class meetings. One absence beyond the 25% limit (7 days) will result in failure of the class. Please plan ahead if you know that you must miss some classes. This limit includes excused and unexcused absences; an absence is an absence. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain class notes and information from other classmates in the event of an absence.

Notes: 1. EN 101 and at least one literature class are prerequisites for enrollment in the

class.

2. It is the responsibility of students who have professionally diagnosed

disabilities to notify the instructor so that necessary and appropriate

modifications can be made to meet any special learning needs.

2. Make sure that all cell phones are turned off before entering the classroom.

3. Students must be properly registered in order to receive credit for the course.

Important Dates:

Jan. 21 – Martin Luther King Holiday

Jan. 18 – Last day to enter class, to change from audit to credit, or to change from

grade to pass/fail

Feb. 13 – Last day to drop or withdraw from a course without received WP/WF

or to change from credit to audit and to submit change of major form

for Spring 2008

Mar.12 – Last day a course may be dropped

Mar. 17-24 – Spring Holidays

Apr. 11 – Last day to withdraw from the university

May 7 – Final Exam – 3:00-6:00

Revised Schedule

Week # 1 January 14, 16

Syllabus, Book Lists, Introduction

Film: Paris Was a Woman

Week # 2 January 21, 23

Holiday – MLK

Paris Environment & Geography

Week # 3 January 28, 30

Parisian Culture & People

Cubism & Modernism

Week # 4 February 4, 6 - Readings: Paris, France & The Auto. of Alice B. Toklas

Oral Presentation – Salons

– Edith Wharton-Paris Years

Gertrude Stein – Introduction

Week # 5 February 11, 13 – Readings: Two & Selected Works

Gertrude Stein – Continued

Oral Presentation – Alice B. Toklas

Week # 6 February 18, 20

Stein – Continued

Oral Presentation: Natalie Barney

Colette-Introduction & Gigi

Week # 7 February 25, 27 – Reading: Paris Was Yesterday-Janet Flanner

Janet Flanner

Oral Presentation: Janet Flanner’s Letters from Paris

Colette

Week # 8 March 3, 8 – Reading: Gigi - Colette

Colette & Gigi – Continued

Film: Gigi

Oral Presentation: Colette’s Early Works

Week # 9 March 10, 12 - Reading: Life Being the Best & Other Stories-Kay Boyle

Kay Boyle - Introduction & Selected Stories

Oral Presentations: Adrienne Monnier

Sylvia Beach

Paper #1 due this week

Spring Break

Week #10 March 26

Catch-up

Oral Presentations: H. D.; Nancy Cunard

Week #11 March 31, April 2 - Reading: Early Diary of Anais Nin, Vol. 3, 1923-27

Anais Nin – Introduction & Diary

Oral Presentation: Nin (Henry and June)

Week #12 April 7, 9 - Reading: The Collected Stories of Djuna Barnes

Djuna Barnes – Introduction & Stories

Oral Presentation: Mina Loy

Week #13 April 14, 16 - Reading: Jean Rhys, The Collected Short Stories

Jean Rhys – Introduction & Stories

Film: Quartet/Rhys

Oral Presentation: Jean Rhys/Other Work/s

Paper #2 due April 14

Week #14 April 21, 23

Salon

Research Paper Conferences

Week #15 April 28, 30

Conferences

Review for Test

Research Paper due April 30

Final Exam – May 7, 3:00-6:00