In this seminar, we will study the life and work of Samuel L. Clemens. We will pursue a chronological course, taking us from Clemens’s earliest newspaper and periodical writing, through his wildly successful travel writing of the late 1860s and early 70s, through three major novels, and into the considerably darker territory of his turn-of-the-century writing. Along the way, we will contextualize the work of Mark Twain within Sam Clemens’s life, within literary history, and within the shifting historical, social, and cultural milieu of the United States from the mid 19th century through the turn of the 20th.
Aside from this general plan, however, I have laid out in advance no particular vectors or agendas for our journey, aside, of course, from those to be inferred from the course goals and assignments. In this regard, I expect a kind of group navigation to take over. While not preferable on a river, dangerous, in fact, group navigation is the best and most enjoyable kind of navigation in a seminar. Where we go in particular, in other words, will become apparent as we move along, and so long as we are prepared, up for the challenge, and ready for the responsibility, this should be a very interesting trip.
(Updated 12 hours later): I crossed out that line about river navigation — a little too hokey — and now you see, students, the messy process behind the syllabus….