The African Novel
ENGL 221
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AFAM 221 |
| Course Cluster and Certificates: African Studies, African Studies Minor |
This class considers several canonical novels from sub-Saharan Africa. Our focus will be on their aesthetic and thematic properties; the novels are not meant as introductions to African histories, cultures, peoples, or practices. We will explore instead the specific subjects and styles of each work in the context of wider debates about orality, language, colonialism, gender, and the novel. To fathom the political and aesthetic stakes of African literary canon formation, we will also attempt to identify what makes a work canonical. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (African Studies Minor)(English) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Less than 50% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Chinua Achebe, THINGS FALL APART
Ayi Kwei Armah, THE BEAUTYFUL ONES ARE NOT YET BORN
Tsitsi Dangarembga, NERVOUS CONDITIONS
Thomas Mofolo, CHAKA
Okot p'Bitek, SONG OF LAWINO
Yambo Ouologuem, BOUND TO VIOLENCE
Ferdinand Oyono, HOUSEBOY
Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, THE MOST SECRET MEMORY OF MEN
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Examinations and Assignments:
Two mid-semester essays and one longer final essay. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Contributes to the following ENGL major requirements: LH3; WL |
| Instructor(s): Saint,Lily Leopold Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 17 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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