Narratives of Identity
"Who are we,” writes Scott Turow, "but the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, and believe?” In this seminar we will examine different narrative strategies and literary devices that writers use to construct identity. What are the time-honored conventions and bold innovations used in stories, novels, and memoirs to fashion selves? Can Damon Galgut's daring experiments in his autobiographical novel In a Strange Room create an identity with the power and conviction of that found in The Autobiography of Malcolm X? What insights are to be found in Toi Derricotte’s exploration of racial identity in The Black Notebooks? Always, we will consider ethnicity, class, gender, place, and politics as they shape identity in the stories we hear, tell, and believe. 3 hrs. sem.