ENG 356
Readings in Jewish Literature

Professor Stephen Rachman
Fall2021
M, W 12:40 PM-2:30 PM

This course sets out to explore English-language-based Jewish-American writing in global literary-historical contexts. The last decadeshaveseen a virtual explosion of important and interesting works by writers of Jewish backgroundswriting in American andglobal literary traditions. This writing ranges from sophisticated work from major established literary figures like Philip Rothand Cynthia Ozickto newerwriters like Nicole Krauss, Dara Horn,and Nathan Englander. It reflects both a flowering of literary creativity and a cultural moment in which the lineaments of Jewish-American culture and tradition are being contested, re-imagined, and redrawnin global and historical terms. During the term we will read six recent worksusing a variety of shorter texts (stories and essays) as points of reference in the history of Jewish-American cultureas it has emerged in the U.S. and in global literary context. We will also have recourse to several landmark films addressing Jewish-American experience and themes.

Some key texts:
Nathan Englander, For the Relief of Unbearable Urges: Stories
Dara Horn, A Guide for the Perplexed
Myla Goldberg, Bee Season: A Novel
Nicole Krauss, Forest Dark
Philip Roth, The Plot Against America
Art Spiegelman, Maus

With stories/essays by Franz Kafka, Abraham Cahan, Cynthia Ozick, Saul Bellow, Etgar Keret, Amos Oz, Adam Kirsch, I.B. Singer

Films: Duck Soup, Gentleman’s Agreement, Avalon, Bee Season, Glue

*This course counts for the Jewish Studies minor