Jewish identity through the lens of contemporary literature
Yvonne Fein
8 points * 2 lectures and 1 tutorial per week * Second semester * Clayton
The aim of this subject is to introduce students to a range of contemporary Jewish literature in English and through this literature to examine issues of Jewish identity. Works in a variety of genres (short story, novel, poetry, autobiography) will be presented. A major focus will be on American authors - Bellow, Malamud, Ozick, I B and I J Singer and Philip Roth. The works of Canadian, Australian and Israeli authors will also be studied. One short segment will deal with the classical shorter fiction of Mendele, Peretz, Sholom Aleichem and Isaac Babel.
Assessment
Written (3000 words): 50% * Examination (2 hours): 30% * Tutorial paper (1000 words): 20%
Prescribed texts
Chapman A (ed.) Jewish American literature: An anthology
Hoffman E Lost in translation
Howe I (ed.) A treasury of Yiddish stories