This course will explore Native American identity as imagined and represented by Native and non Native American authors in the twentieth century. Readings will include texts by D’Arcy McNickle, William Faulkner, D. H. Lawrence, N. Scott Momaday, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie and Forrest Carter, written in a variety of genres (short stories, autobiographies, novels, essays). We will contextualizing Native American culture, raise issues concerning identity and authenticity, discuss the relation between oral storytelling and the written text, address the phenomenon of going native, and explore the relation between anthropology and Native American literature.

Requirements:

A short presentation of a critical reading (to be assigned in class) – 20%
Active participation in class discussion – 10%
Final exam – 70%