Reading & Composition
War and Its Aftermath
In this course, we will explore works depicting war and its aftermath in literature, film, poetry, and drama. Major texts are likely to include Japan’s medieval war epic The Tale of the Heike, Hadji Murat by Leo Tolstoy, Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, and Father Comes Home from The Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3) by Suzan-Lori Parks. Through these and a selection of other short works, we will discuss topics including social upheaval, religion, warrior culture, cross-cultural encounters, trauma, memory, and slavery.
This course satisfies half of the University’s Reading and Composition requirement. Through discussions and writing assignments, we will practice close reading and critical thinking to examine both the content and form of these works. The goal of this course is to help students to become better writers and develop their skills in presenting clear and well-supported arguments about works of art.