ENGL 2600: Historical Topics: Global Short Fiction

Abstract

This is a course about the short story as a literary form with a focus on short stories from around the world. We will acquire a technical vocabulary for discussing how short stories are made and how they can be interpreted. Why do stories matter? Why do we read and write them? What are the limits of the form? And how does reading stories from around the world help us better understand different cultures and help us better understand ourselves? Works will include (but not be limited to) stories by Achebe, Borges, Chekhov, Dinesen, Ginzburg, Joyce, Kafka, Garcia Marquez, Murakami, and Yi Yun Li. Course Requirements: One 7-10 page paper, daily one-question reading quizzes, four reading response letters (2-3 pages), and one take-home final exam due online during the scheduled final exam period.