Post-Colonial Literature in English

Course description
As the British Empire began its decline in the wake of World War II, an outpouring of literature emerged from its former colonies. As Indian‐born British novelist Salman Rushdie pointed out, the empire was writing back “with a vengeance.” In this course we will read and analyze contemporary works by writers from Africa, The Caribbeans, India, and Britain. In addition, this course will examine how these authors negotiate the legacies of empire, ongoing processes of de‐colonization, and evolving forms of neo‐colonialism. We will also look at pivotal post-colonial theoretical texts that investigate issues of identity, nationalism, language, diaspora, race, gender, and hybridity.

Required Textbook (subject to change)

• Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart.
• Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions.
• Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea
• Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Esmond in India
• Meera Syal, Anita and Me.

Course Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Engage in verbal and written intellectual discussion/debate??
2. Identify and discuss key postcolonial authors and texts in their historical and cultural contexts
3. Define and deploy central terms and concepts in postcolonial studies (e.g. diaspora, hybridity, discourse, etc.)
4. Comprehend, and engage with postcolonial literary criticism
5. Conduct research using proper Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation

Course Learning Activities
Oral Presentations  (LO1,  LO2, LO3)
Mid‐term and final exam in the form of in‐class essays (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4)
Research paper (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5)
Active participation in class discussion (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4)