ENGL 371 (Schedule #26725)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Spring 2012
Tues-Thurs 11am-12:15pm :: 429 Hibbs Hall
Prof. David Golumbia
Office: 324D Hibbs Hall
Spring 2012 Office Hours: Tues 12:30-3:00pm

American Literary Beginnings

ORAL PRESENTATION SIGN-UP SHEET

Oral presentation/paper topics and signup sheet. Consult the Presentation Guide for more information on what is expected for the assignment.

Date Texts & Topics for Oral Reports Sign Up

  • Tues Jan 17.

    

  • Thurs Jan 19.

   

  • Tues Jan 24.

  1. Amerigo Vespucci, (bio/overview including Mondus Novus & history of America map)
  2. Vasco de Gama (bio/overview)
  1. (note: paper due Feb 7) Amber Galaviz (Vespucci)
  2. (note: paper due Feb 7) Helen Swineford (Vasco de Gama)

  • Thurs Jan 26.
  1. Ferdinand Magellan (bio/overview)
  2. Ma Huan, "The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores" (and/or other early Chinese explorers)
  1. (note: paper due Feb 9) Alison Goehring (Magellan)
  2. (note: paper due Feb 9) Adam Stern (Ma Huan/Chinese explorers)

  • Tues Jan 31.

  1. Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés (aka "Oviedo") (bio & overview of historical writings)
  2. Hakluyt's Voyages (overview & discussion of impact/reception, with discussion of 3-5 specific chapters/sections)
  1. (note: paper due Feb 14) Dae Newman (Oviedo)
  2. (note: paper due Feb 14)

  • Thurs Feb 2.

  1. Margarita Zamora, Reading Columbus, pages 63-end
  2. Gavin Menzies, 1421: The Year China Discovered America
  1. (note: paper due Feb 16)
  2. (note: paper due Feb 16) Matt Davis (1421)

  • Tues Feb 7.

  1. Alfred Crosby, The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Conseqeunces of 1492
  2. John Cabot and Sebastian Cabot (bio/overview)
  1. Julie Ward (Columbian Exchange)
  2. Merisa Horgan (J & C Cabot)

  • Thurs Feb 9.

  1. Charles Mann, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
  2. Charles Mann, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
  2. CJ Louis (1491)

  • Tues Feb 14.

  1. Las Casas, In Defense of the Indians
  2. Cabeza de Vaca, The Relation
  1. Jorge Blanco (In Defense of the Indians)

  • Thurs Feb 16.

  1. Samuel de Champlain (bio/overview)
  2. Jacques Cartier (bio/overview)
  1. Travis Childrey (Samuel de Champlain)
  2. Alfred Valdrighi (Cartier)

  • Tues Feb 21.

No class  

  • Thurs Feb 23.

  1. Cortés, The Third Letter
  2. Cortés, The Fourth and Fifth Letters
  1. Maegan Kendrick (Third Letter)
  2. David Loving (Fourth and Fifth Letters)

  • Tues Feb 28.

  1. Maps of/by the Cortés expeditions, including Aztec illustrations and maps
  2. Inga Clendinnen, Ambivalent Conquests: Maya and Spaniard in Yucatan, 1517-1570

  • Thurs Mar 1.

  1. Tzvetan Todorov, The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other
  2. Cannibalism
  1. Gabriel Boudali (Todorov)
  2. Courtney Spilker (cannibalism)

  • Tues Mar 6.

  1. Friar Bernardino de Sahagún (bio/overview of historical writings)
  2. Aztec writings and language (overview)

  • Thurs Mar 8.

  1. Miguel de Leon-Portilla (bio/overview)
  2. Friar Diego de Landa, Yucatan Before and After the Conquest
  1. Lucille Sherman (Leon-Portilla)
  2. Julie Gassaway (Yucatan Before and After the Conquest)

  • Tues Mar 13.

 No class  

  • Thurs Mar 15.

No class  

  • Tues Mar 20.
  1. Jean de Léry, History of a Voyage to the Land of Brazil
  2. Sir Walter Raleigh (bio/non-explorer writings)
  2. Kiera Newell (Raleigh)

  • Thurs Mar 22.
  1. Garcilaso de la Vega, The Incas
  2. Ponce de Leon (bio/overview)
  1. Erin Willis (Garcilaso de la Vega)
  2. Nicole Steele (Ponce de Leon)

  • Tues Mar 27.
  1. Stephen Greenblatt, Marvelous Possessions: The Wonder of the New World (parts not assigned on main syllabus)
  2. Gesa Mackenthun, Metaphors of Dispossession: American Beginnings and the Translation of Empire, 1492-1637 (parts not assigned on main syllabus)

  • Thurs Mar 29.

No class  

  • Tues Apr 3.

  1. Lope de Aguirre (bio/overview)
  1. Sara Beale (Lope de Aguirre)

  • Thurs Apr 5.
  1. Vasco Núñez de Balboa (bio & writings)
  1. Gabrielle Washington (Balboa)

  • Tues Apr 10.
  1. Roanoke colony
  2. Jamestown
  2. Charles Peck (Jamestown)

  • Thurs Apr 12.
  1. Thomas Harriot, Theodor de Bry, John White, et. al.: illustrations to Harriot, A Briefe and True Report...
  2. Cotton Mather, sermons
  1. Frankie Gollub (Harriot)

  • Tues Apr 17.
  1. Gordon F. Sayre, Les Sauvage Americains: Representations of Native Americans in French and English Colonial Literature
  2. William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation
  1. Jeremy Kirk (Les Sauvage Americains)
  2. Nikia Whigham (Bradford)

  • Thurs Apr 19.

  1. Edward Gray, New World Babel: Languages and Nations in Early America
  2. Roger Williams, A Key Into the Language of America
  1. Stephanie Wilkinson (New World Babel)
  2. Destiny Brandon (A Key Into the Language of America)

  • Tues Apr 24
  1. Mary Rowlandson, A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
  2. Hannah Dustin, A Notable Exploit...
  1. Victoria Kremer (Rowlandson)
  2. Kait Fial (Dustin)

  • Thurs Apr 26
  1. William Byrd, History of the Dividing Line (the non-secret version)
  2. Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the Present State of Virginia
  1. Jana Verdes (Byrd)
  2. Mihret Kabilovic (Jefferson)

  • Tues May 1
  1. Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)
  1. Lindsey Jensen