Themes in Modernism: Alienation
Alienation Overview
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Overview
One of modern literature’s most powerful motifs is the idea of alienation — alienation from an increasingly urban and mechanistic society, alienation from God or the divine, alienation from the family, or even (as in Kafka or Wilde), alienation from the self. Issues of identity are crucial for this unit: How do we define ourselves? By our class? By our jobs? By our accent? By our appearance? Can we re-make ourselves — and what happens to us when we do? Opening Questions We will discuss these opening questions prior to class discussion of the works in this unit. They are provided here for your convenience and reflection, although there is a strong possibility that I will ask you to write and submit developed answers to them in written form.
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Background Reading
NOTE: Readings are mandatory unless specifically marked “Optional.” They are given to help you understand the course material. If you’re having a hard time understanding something, the optional materials can often be very helpful to you. If you have suggestions for optional material you would like to see on this page, please email me at [email protected] with your suggestions. |
Background Reading
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Literature Readings
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Alienation in Fiction
Nicolai Gogol
Franz Kafka
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Discussion Questions
NOTE: Below are questions we will most likely be addressing in class. These are put here for your convenience and reflection. It would be helpful to you for you to review these questions and think about how you would answer them before we discuss these works together. |
Questions for “The Metamorphosis”*
Prereading “Metamorphosis”
Metamorphosis Discussion Questions
* Note: Some questions taken or adapted from the Great Books Reading and Discussion Program. |
Possible Assessments and Assignments
Note: These are possible assignments and assessments that may be given during this unit. They are placed here for your convenience and review if you would like to see a typical assessment for this course. |
Writing Assignments
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Resources for the Media-Minded
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Optional Resources
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