Postcolonial Discontents

“What is English about English ground for advanced interpretative studies and skills. Critical/Literary Theory addresses contemporary critical issues dealing with the ways in which literary texts are read in the context of an increasingly rich and complex multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary world. literature?” writes Salman Rushdie, effectively giving voice to a primary theme and preoccupation of postcolonial literary theory. In this course we will read both postcolonial theory and postcolonial literatures,so as to gain some appreciation of these forms of writing and critical inquiry. Novels include Maalouf’s “An Imaginary Life,” Harris’ “Palace of the Peacock,” Rhys’ “Wide Sargasso Sea,” Conrad’s “Lord Jim,” and Morrison’s “Beloved.”