American Fiction: The 20th Century (ENGL40015)
HonoursPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
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In this subject, students study a range of major works of American fiction from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries identifying and tracing the different genres and themes that occur over the century and that seem important to American writers. The list is not definitive but includes such ideas as the role of the writer and fiction, the problems of gender, sexuality, class and race but also war, consumerism, surveillance and authority, the environment and technology. Drawing on class discussions and the critical and theoretical articles they read in class they develop their own essay topics.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- Be able to demonstrate a familiarity with some of the key texts of 20th century American fiction
- Have a broad understanding of the political, social and cultural changes affecting American fiction from the early to the late early-20 th century and how these have influenced the subject matter and styles of 20 th century American fiction
- Have an overview of some of the more important and critical and theoretical works issuing from North America and how these can be usefully applied to the reading of American fiction
- Have acquired a transportable set of interpretative skills
- Have developed their capacity for independent research
- Have developed their capacity for critical thinking and analysis
- Have developed their ability to communicate in writing.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- The ability to critically analyse and discuss a wide range of reading materials through participation in class discussions, the reading of critical essays and the writing of a class paper and an extended scholarly essay
- The ability to both develop and modify one's thinking by participating in class discussions and writing an essay that requires one to respond to literary critics ideas
- The capacity for independent and targeted research as a result of preparing a class presentation and writing a scholarly essay
- The capacity for creative thinking through participation in discussions and the writing of essays that apply critical and theoretical ideas to the reading and interpretation of texts
- The capacity for making ethical judgements and informed political choices as a result of engaging with and discussing texts by people from different social and cultural backgrounds to oneself
- The capacity for critical self awareness through participation in discussions and the reading of critical texts that acknowledge where one's ideas and assumptions come from as well as what kinds of social privileges one enjoys
- The capacity for lucid and logical argument as a result of careful essay planning and writing
- Competency in the use of library and other information sources such as on line websites and search engines through the researching and writing of essays that require the use of these resources
- The ability to organise oneself and manage one's time efficiently and effectively through the successful completion of a class paper and a written essay by the due date.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
ENGL40015 The Black Presence in American Fiction
ENGL40015 American Fiction: Cooper to Cather
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
A piece of written work
| Mid semester | 30% |
A piece of written work
| During the examination period | 70% |
| Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
Not available in 2025
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available.
- Summer (E Wharton)
- Love Medicine (L Erdrich)
- Passing (N Larsen)
- The Bluest Eye (T Morrison)
- Mother Night (K Vonnegut Jr)
- The Left Hand of Darkness (U Le Guin)
- The Road (C McCarthy)
- The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (J Diaz)
Recommended texts and other resources
- The Cambridge History of American Literature Vol 5
- The Cambridge History of American Literature Vol 6
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced) Course Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours) Course Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025