The American Renaissance and Mark Twain from Coursera

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Syllabus

Mark Twain: An Introduction

This module explores Mark Twain's literary rivalry with Harriet Beecher Stowe and discusses why Huckleberry Finn’s story is labeled as a "tall tale." The module also defines "realism" and "naturalism" in terms of Twain's works.

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Explores literary movements like realism and naturalism, providing a deeper understanding of their application in 19th-century American literature

Examines the historical context of blackface minstrelsy and its complex relationship to interracial dynamics in the United States during the era

Offered by Dartmouth College, which has a long-standing reputation for its English and Creative Writing programs

Compares 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' with Twain's 'Life on the Mississippi', offering insights into the author's evolving perspectives and literary techniques

Reviews summary

Twain, huck finn & american renaissance context

According to learners, this course offers a highly insightful exploration of Mark Twain, particularly focusing on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and its relationship to the American Renaissance. Students frequently praise the depth of analysis provided, finding it sheds new light on familiar texts and challenging concepts like realism, naturalism, and blackface minstrelsy. The instructor's expertise and engaging delivery are highlighted as significant strengths, making complex topics accessible and thought-provoking. While some find the material conceptually challenging at times, the overall sentiment is very positive, emphasizing the course's ability to foster a deeper understanding of Twain within his historical and literary context.

Course content is logically organized and flows well.

"The course structure felt logical, building from an introduction to more specific analyses."

"Modules flowed nicely, making it easy to follow the progression of ideas."

"The way the syllabus is broken down into key themes works very well."

"Content felt well-organized and easy to navigate through."

Contextualizes Twain within American Renaissance.

"Understanding the American Renaissance period alongside Twain's work was crucial and well-covered."

"The course effectively connects Twain to the literary movements like realism and naturalism."

"Discussing topics like blackface minstrelsy provided essential historical context, though challenging."

"It really helped me see Twain not just as an author, but as a product of his time."

Course provides thorough analysis of key Twain texts.

"The focus on Huckleberry Finn was incredibly detailed and helped me understand the novel on a much deeper level."

"Comparing Huck Finn to Life on the Mississippi was a stroke of genius. It provided such valuable context."

"I appreciated the close reading and analysis of the texts provided in the modules."

"The course offers a nuanced look at Twain's work that goes beyond a surface reading."

Professor offers deep insights and engaging lectures.

"The professor's lectures are brilliant and deeply insightful. I was constantly taking notes."

"I really enjoyed the instructor's passion for the subject. It made the material come alive."

"His analysis of the texts was superb, offering perspectives I hadn't considered before."

"The professor's expertise shines through, making complex ideas easy to grasp."

Material can be dense or difficult for some.

"Some of the concepts, like the analysis of minstrelsy, were quite complex and required re-watching the lectures."

"I found the pace of certain modules a bit fast given the depth of the ideas being discussed."

"Requires careful attention and perhaps some prior background in literary analysis to fully appreciate."

"Understanding the nuances of 'ambivalence' as discussed needed extra effort."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The American Renaissance and Mark Twain with these activities:

Review American History Context

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Familiarize yourself with the historical context of the American Renaissance to better understand the social and political influences on Mark Twain and his contemporaries.

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Read summaries of key historical events.
Review the social and political climate.

Read 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'

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Gain insight into the literary rivalry between Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe by reading Stowe's most famous work.

View Uncle Tom's Cabin (Classics Illustrated) on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.
Read the novel, paying attention to themes of slavery and social justice.
Reflect on Stowe's perspective and its impact on American society.

Write a blog post comparing Twain and Stowe

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Solidify your understanding of the literary rivalry between Twain and Stowe by writing a blog post that analyzes their contrasting styles and perspectives.

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Research Twain's and Stowe's literary styles.
Identify key differences and similarities in their works.
Draft a blog post that presents your analysis.
Edit and publish your blog post.

Four other activities

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Read 'Life on the Mississippi'

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Deepen your understanding of Mark Twain's life and influences by reading his autobiographical work, 'Life on the Mississippi'.

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Obtain a copy of 'Life on the Mississippi'.
Read the book, paying attention to Twain's personal experiences and observations.
Reflect on how Twain's life shaped his literary works.

Create a presentation on Blackface Minstrelsy

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Explore the complex relationship between blackface minstrelsy and interracial bonds in the United States by creating a presentation that analyzes its historical context and cultural impact.

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Research the history of blackface minstrelsy.
Analyze its portrayal of race and identity.
Prepare a presentation that discusses its ambivalence and impact.
Practice and deliver your presentation.

Research the concept of the 'Tall Tale'

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Investigate the characteristics of the 'tall tale' genre and its significance in American literature, particularly in the context of 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.

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Define the characteristics of a 'tall tale'.
Identify examples of 'tall tales' in American literature.
Analyze how 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' fits or subverts the genre.
Write a short essay summarizing your findings.

Discuss Realism and Naturalism

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Engage in a peer discussion to deepen your understanding of realism and naturalism in Mark Twain's works.

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Review the definitions of realism and naturalism.
Prepare examples from Twain's works.
Meet with peers to discuss and compare interpretations.

Career center

Learners who complete The American Renaissance and Mark Twain will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Literary Critic

A literary critic analyzes and interprets written works, often focusing on themes, historical context, and authorial intent. This course's exploration of Mark Twain's literary rivalry with Harriet Beecher Stowe, and its definition of realism and naturalism in Twain's works, provides a robust foundation for a career as a literary critic. The course's examination of the ambivalence as the basis for interracial bonds in the United States and the comparisons of Twain's autobiographical work with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn gives you the insight into how literature both reflects and shapes society, essential for a literary critic.

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English Professor

An English professor teaches courses on literature, composition, and rhetoric at the college or university level. This course, with its in-depth study of Mark Twain, would be beneficial to anyone interested in this career field. An english professor must be able to develop nuanced interpretations of literary texts for students and this course directly engages with literary texts such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Life on the Mississippi, as well as exploring literary terms such as realism and naturalism. The course provides a framework for understanding literary analysis that is helpful for teaching literature.

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High School Teacher

A high school teacher instructs students on English language and literature, as well as a variety of other subjects. This course may be useful for someone who wants to teach American literature at the high school level. The course's focus on Mark Twain's literary techniques, such as realism and naturalism, and its exploration of the historical context surrounding his works, may be useful to a high school teacher looking to enrich their lessons and help students understand complex themes in literature. Analyzing the relationship between Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Life on the Mississippi would give a high school teacher strategies to help students understand a great author's oeuvre.

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Author

An author writes books, articles, or other literary works. This course may be useful to those interested in a career as an author, especially if they are interested in writing about American literature, historical events, or social issues. The course's analysis of Mark Twain's use of realism and naturalism may help an author develop their own writing style and technique. The course's discussions on issues such as race and identity may inspire an author to explore these themes in their own work. The course's study of the relationship between Twain's life and work may help an author understand how personal experiences can inform creative writing.

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Editor

An editor reviews and revises written material for publication. This course may be useful for someone interested in a career as an editor, particularly in the fields of literature and academic publishing. The course's close reading of Mark Twain's works may help an editor develop their critical eye and attention to detail. Understanding literary techniques like realism and naturalism would benefit an editor. The course's focus on the historical context of Twain's writing may help an editor understand the nuances of language and cultural sensitivity.

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Curator

A curator manages collections of objects or artifacts, often in museums or archives. This course may be useful to a curator interested in American literature, specifically in the works of Mark Twain. The course content, which explores Twain's literary rivalry with Harriet Beecher Stowe and the historical context of his work, will enrich an understanding of the cultural significance of literary artifacts. A curator should be familiar with the themes of realism and naturalism while contextualizing how blackface minstrelsy affected interracial bonds in the United States. This course would build upon those skills.

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Archivist

An archivist manages and preserves historical records and documents. The course's focus on Mark Twain's literary works, as well as his autobiographical writings, might be useful for an archivist working with literary collections. An archivist should be attentive to the social and cultural context in which texts were produced, and this course's discussion of racism and interracial bonds in the United States may help an archivist understand and contextualize historical documents. This course's deep dive into Mark Twain's writing, including his use of realism and naturalism, might help an archivist understand the literary traditions that shaped the works they preserve.

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Librarian

A librarian helps patrons find information and provides access to resources. This course may be useful for a librarian who works with literature or American history. The course provides specific literary analysis of the works of Mark Twain; a librarian should be familiar with such analysis for their work. Understanding the historical context of Twain's work would also be useful to a librarian. This course will deepen a librarian's understanding of Twain's place in American literary history.

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Journalist

A journalist reports on current events and writes news stories for publication. While this course does not focus on current events, a journalist may find that the course's study of how literature addresses social and political issues could be helpful. The course's examination of blackface minstrelsy and its impact on interracial bonds in the United States might inform a journalist when covering issues related to race and identity. This course's analysis of the literary techniques of realism and naturalism also may be useful for a journalist.

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Content Writer

A content writer creates written material for websites, blogs, and other digital platforms. Knowing more about Mark Twain's work, including his literary techniques such as realism and naturalism, may be helpful for a content writer looking to produce engaging and informative pieces. The content writer may also be able to draw upon the course's analysis of historical and social issues to provide context and depth to their writing. This course's focus on the relationship between literature and society may provide a content writer with valuable insights and new perspectives.

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Grant Writer

A grant writer creates proposals to secure funding for organizations. Understanding the historical context and literary analysis from this course may not apply directly. However, this course's focus on American literature and culture could provide valuable background information for research and proposal writing. The literary terms, ideas, and historical context discussed within the course may enhance a grant writer's ability to craft compelling narratives, which are often a part of grant writing. The course may be helpful when working with projects that focus on the humanities or arts.

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Marketing Specialist

A marketing specialist develops and implements marketing strategies for businesses and organizations. While this course's focus is on literature rather than business, the critical thinking and analytical skills developed through the course study of Mark Twain and literary devices may be useful for a marketing specialist. Understanding how different authors approach a story, such as the differences between Twain, Stowe, and how realism and naturalism function, may help build communication skills useful for crafting marketing messages. This may be helpful for marketing strategies.

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Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages the public image of an organization or individual. This course's focus on literature might provide a different lens for the approach to communication strategies but it is unlikely to help a public relations specialist directly. The course's analysis of Mark Twain's works may not apply directly to public relations, though the ability to analyze and interpret complex information may be useful. A public relations specialist must be able to communicate effectively, and engagement with the literary texts in this course may facilitate that ability. This course might be helpful for someone who also cares deeply about literature.

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Academic Advisor

An Academic advisor provides support and guidance to students on academic matters. This course might be helpful for an academic advisor, especially if they advise undergraduates in the humanities. The literary analysis in this course may inform discussions of what makes a text worth studying, or useful for building arguments or writing essays. Therefore, this course’s engagement with the works of Mark Twain and his contemporaries would help an academic advisor understand the texts their students are engaging with. This may be helpful for an academic advisor.

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Social Media Manager

A social media manager creates and curates content for various social media platforms. This course's focus is on literature and the analysis of texts. Therefore, it may not align directly with social media management which requires more technical skills and an understanding of current trends. However, the critical thinking skills and historical understanding gained from a literary analysis of Mark Twain may be transferrable to curating engaging and informative social media content. A social media manager should understand their audience and the historical context in which content is made which may be improved by reviewing Mark Twain's works and their historical context. This course may be helpful for a social media manager.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The American Renaissance and Mark Twain.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

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This novel crucial piece of literature from the American Renaissance. It provides context for the literary rivalry between Stowe and Twain. Reading this book will give you a deeper understanding of the social and political issues that shaped their works. It is considered a foundational text for understanding the period.

Uncle Tom's Cabin (Classics Illustrated)

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The American Renaissance and Mark Twain

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Twain, huck finn & american renaissance context

Activities

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