ENGL 4450: Topics in African American Literature

Slavery in the Literary Imagination

Haley 2332, MWF 12:00PM-1:00PM
Fall 2015
Katy Hamm
kmh0045@auburn.edu

Course Material:
David Walker, Walkers Appeal
Martin Delaney, Blake, or the Huts of America
Henry Box Brown, Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, Written by Himself
William Styron, The Confessions of Nat Turner
The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Toni Morrison, Beloved
Django: Unchained

Course Description:
When considering the slave narrative in African American literature, renowned names such as
Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs and Solomon Northup probably come to mind. These
writers, while by no means complacent in or accepting of the condition of slavery, are
nonetheless reminiscent of one another in their surprisingly peaceful response to being enslaved.
Although each author includes some instances of violence, rebellion, and strong emotion in their
work, these narratives focus more on personal feelings of emancipation and self-ownership
resulting from freedom than encouraging or helping other enslaved people to gain emancipation.
Despite this there is an entire subsection of emancipationist literature which not only condones
but encourages the violence, anger, and passion that is only touched upon in traditional slave
narratives. Authors such as David Walker and Martin Delaney not only engage the positivity of
emancipation but go so far as to call for specifically African American pride, nationalism, and
revolt. This course will evoke a unique perspective in inviting us to consider the role of this
specifically militant tradition in African American literature spanning from the early 1800s
during abolition to modern-day reinterpretations of this tradition in literature as well as film.
Special emphasis in this course will be placed on Nat Turners Rebellion and various literary and
cinematographic reactions to this event.

Course Objectives:
Your goal in this course will be to cultivate an understanding of slavery in African American
literature and the literary canon through new modes of discourse that you may not already be
familiar with. By the end of the course you should be able to engage ideas of slavery and racism
through the lens of militant abolition and formulate educated responses on the meaning and
importance of this tradition. We will also examine this tradition in comparison to excerpts from

more peaceful abolitionist writers and incorporate criticisms of the listed reading material into
our discussion in order to create a better portrait of how the militant abolitionist tradition is
received and incorporated into the literary canon over the course of history.

Course Design:
This course will feature a vigorous reading schedule engaging several different authors as well as
films which we will view in class. Reading is expected to be completed in advance of each class
in order for you to engage in detailed discussion of the text. Classes will be largely discussionbased and occasionally include short in-class writing assignments.

Assignments and Grading:

Outside of reading and in-class work, you will complete one-page reflection essays following the
completion of each major reading assignment as well as an in-class midterm and final exam. The
course will also include one major 8-12 page research paper engaging our reading material as
well as another work you have read outside of class. The scale for grading is as follows:
Attendance
In-Class Participation and Writing
Short Essays
Research Paper
Midterm Exam
Final Exam

5%
10%
20%
25%
20%
20%

Attendance:
You will be permitted three unexcused absences from this class; any more will result in failure
due to absence, but fewer than three will add points to your final attendance grade. I must
receive excuses for university-approved absences as well as any make-up work no later than one
week after the absence in question. If you have a conflict that is not university approved, I will
consider excusing the absence but make-up work may not be accepted.

Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism, cheating, or academic dishonesty of any form will result in expulsion from this class
and you will be reported to the university. It looks much better on your record to ask for an
extension or get points off for turning in a paper late than to get expelled from college for turning
in work that is not your own.

Course Schedule:
M 08/17 Syllabus and Course introduction
W 08/19 Walkers Appeal Preamble and Article I

F 08/21 Walkers Appeal Article II

M 08/24 Walkers Appeal Article III
W 08/26 Walkers Appeal Article IV and William Lloyd Garrison, Editorial Regarding
Walkers Appeal
F 08/28 Reflection Essay 1 due; A Rebellion to Remember: The Legacy of Nat Turner and
Henry Highland Garnet, An Address to the Slaves of the United States
M 08/31 Blake, or the Huts of America
W 09/02 Blake, or the Huts of America
F 09/04 Blake, or the Huts of America
M 09/07 LABOR DAY
W 09/09 Blake, or the Huts of America
F 09/11 Blake, or the Huts of America
M 09/14 Blake, of the Huts of America
W 09/16 Essay 2 due; Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, Written by Himself
F 09/18 Narrative
M 09/21 Narrative
W 09/23 Narrative
F 09/25 Narrative
M 09/28 Narrative
W 09/30 Essay 3 due; The Confessions of Nat Turner
F 10/02 The Confessions of Nat Turner
M 10/05 The Confessions of Nat Turner
W 10/07 MIDTERM (not including The Confessions of Nat Turner)
F 10/09 The Confessions of Nat Turner

M 10/12 The Confessions of Nat Turner

W 10/14 Essay 4 due; The Confessions of Nat Turner
F 10/16 FALL BREAK; start The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner
M 10/19 The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner
W 10/21 The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner
F 10/23 The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner
M 10/26 The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner
W 10/28 Essay 5 due; Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
F 10/30 Beloved
M 11/02 Beloved
W 11/04 Beloved
F 11/06 Beloved
M 11/09 Beloved
W 11/11 Beloved
F 11/13 Essay 6 due; Django: Unchained
M 11/16 Django: Unchained
W 11/18 Django: Unchained
F 11/20 Finish Django: Unchained and discuss
M 11/23-F 11/27 THANKSGIVING BREAK
M 11/30 LIBRARY DAY
W 12/02 LIBRARY DAY
F 12/04 LAST DAY OF CLASS, RESEARCH PAPER DUE
M 12/07 FINAL EXAM 12PM-1:30PM