Literature & Writing
The stories of Genesis are features of world literature and culture, but lesser known are the origins of these stories and the book itself. This course will discuss Genesis’s stories in the context of literature and the book’s development, including its portraits of God and women. Reading to be done before the first class: Ch. 1-4, 6-9, 11-13 and before the second class: 24-34. Instructor: Jean Sonntag.
Grab your magnifying glass and get ready for an adventure as we sleuth out the mysteries of Agatha Christie’s life and writings! Often called the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie is the world’s best-selling mystery writer. In five sessions, we’ll examine the adventures and mysteries of Christie’s own life, the popularity of her famous detectives, the form and subversions of the classic detective novel, the influence of travel and archeology upon her stories, and the ways her writing responds to the changing social landscape of early 20th century Britain. Instructor: Ann Stephenson. No class Nov 4 & 25.
How is it that the shortest of stories can contain worlds of meaning? Short stories are poetic and compressed works of fiction that engage our imagination and empathy. Join this class as we continue to analyze stories representative of a variety of eras and cultures. We will identify the elements of short fiction; examine matters of craft; and determine what the author wants readers to understand, or ask, after reading their story. Text: The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction (shorter 7th edition): Bausch and Cassill, eds. Instructor: Ann Stephenson.
Founded in 1925, the New Yorker magazine has been the wellspring of the American short story. The magazine’s current fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, has selected 78 stories by the country’s greatest fiction writers and compiled them in one volume titled A Century of Fiction in the New Yorker, 1925-2025. In this six-session course we’ll read and discuss 12 of these stories, ranging across the decades. Along the way we’ll learn about such basic fictional techniques as point of view, setting, plot and character development, dialogue, symbolism, and metaphorical language. Instructor: George Clack. Meets alternate weeks. No class Nov 27.
Founded in 1925, the New Yorker magazine has been the wellspring of the American short story. The magazine’s current fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, has selected 78 stories by the country’s greatest fiction writers and compiled them in one volume titled A Century of Fiction in the New Yorker, 1925-2025. In this six-session course we’ll read and discuss 12 of these stories, ranging across the decades. Along the way we’ll learn about such basic fictional techniques as point of view, setting, plot and character development, dialogue, symbolism, and metaphorical language. Instructor: George Clack. Meets alternate weeks. No class 11/28.
A solid introduction to the genres, forms, and elements of fiction with an emphasis on writing for the commercial marketplace. Students will learn character, conflict, arc, plot, three-act structure, beats, scenes, setting, dialogue, and more. Students will write a short story for group critique. Instructor: Julie Castillo.