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First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-20)

Topic

Historical Fiction and the Making of the Past

Instructors

Jennifer Weintritt

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-329: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

Historical Fiction and the Making of the Past

This class explores the genre of historical fiction and its role in shaping our connection to the past. We'll compare two premodern texts on the border of historical fiction, Vergil's Aeneid of Ancient Rome and the Vinland Sagas of the Viking North Atlantic, with two 20th century novels that tell the story of these works' creation and preservation. We'll reach outside of literature from time to time to consider acts of historical fiction in other media: television and movies, theater, and forged antiquities. The writing component will build up to a book review in the style of the New Yorker.

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.