4301.003 Spring 2008
Studies in Selected Authors: Octavia E. Butler’s Literary Accomplishment
Octavia Butler (1947-2006) was the foremost African-American feminist author of science fiction of her time, and is one of the great American writers of speculative fiction, period. In this class, we will study and discuss the development of her writing, giving our main attention to her novel-length works of prose fiction. In the process, students will locate and analyze specimens of the critical literature on Butler. Through class reports integrated with essay assignments, students will practice their own critical skills in response.
Octavia Butler (Wikipedia)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Octavia Butler page
Octavia Butler in Seattle,
July 2001 (© Bruce
Clarke)
Expectations, Outcomes, Assessments
Required Texts
SH Seed to Harvest (Warner Books)
Kindred (Beacon Press)
LB Lilith’s Brood (Grand Central)
Parable of the Sower (Grand Central)
Parable of the Talents (Warner Books)
Fledgling (Warner Books)
|
|
Readings
|
Responses |
|
JAN 10 |
Introduction
|
|
|
15 |
Mind of My Mind (SH 270-363)
|
Christa Holland, Kassie Shepherd |
|
17 |
Mind of My Mind (SH 363-451)
|
Christina Powell, Seraphina Russell |
|
22 |
Kindred ix-107
|
Emily Sorrells, Kristin Lowrey |
|
24 |
Kindred 108-264
|
Hayley Gardner, Leticia McCoy |
|
29 |
Wild Seed (SH 5-123)
|
Heather Holland, Michelle Belsha |
|
31 |
Wild Seed (SH 124-253)
|
Jackie Grossman, Patrick Harned |
|
FEB 5 |
|
Be prepared to read your report to
the class,
then to discuss it in relation to Butler's work as a whole, and have
it ready to turn in at the end of class. |
|
7 |
Clay’s Ark (SH 453-539)
|
Andrew Bush, Jessie Barr |
|
12 |
Clay’s Ark (SH 540-624) |
Jantosh Gerling, Tori
Martin |
|
14 |
Essay 1
|
Develop a five-page
(1250-1500 word) essay on some precisely-focused aspect of Butler's
Patternist series, further developing your research report by
bringing in at one least one more critical essay. You are welcome to
bring Kindred into the discussion, but it must be in
the context of its relations to the Patternist series. A standalone
essay on Kindred will not be acceptable. |
|
19 |
Dawn (LB 5-112)
|
Scott Uptmore, Kassie Shepherd |
|
21 |
Dawn (LB 115-248)
|
Ryan Gibbs, Stacey Splawn |
|
26 |
Adulthood Rites (LB 253-417)
|
Seraphina Russell, Christa Holland |
|
28 |
Adulthood Rites (LB 419-517)
|
Jared Brown, Christina Powell |
|
MAR 4 |
Imago (LB 523-666)
|
Kristin Lowrey, Hayley Gardner |
|
6 |
Imago (LB 669-746)
|
Leticia McCoy, Emily Sorrells |
|
11 |
Essay 2
|
Develop a six-page
(1500-1800 word) essay on some precisely-focused aspect of Butler's
Xenogenesis trilogy, bringing at least two critical essays into your
discussion. |
|
13 |
|
|
|
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
|
25 |
Parable of the Sower 1-99
|
Michelle Belsha, Andrew Bush |
|
27 |
Parable of the Sower 101-195
|
Patrick Harned, Jackie Grossman |
|
APR 1 |
Parable of the Sower 196-329
|
Ryan Gibbs, Heather Holland |
|
3 |
|
Be prepared to read your report to
the class,
then to discuss it in relation to Butler's work as a whole, and have
it ready to turn in at the end of class. |
|
8 |
Parable of the Talents 1-133
|
Scott Uptmore, Jessie Barr |
|
10 |
Parable of the Talents 135-275
|
Stacey Splawn, Jared Brown |
|
15 |
Parable of the Talents 276-408
|
Tori Martin, Jantosh Gerling |
|
17 |
|
Be prepared to read your report
to the class,
then to discuss it in relation to Butler's work as a whole, and have
it ready to turn in at the end of class. |
|
22 |
Fledgling 1-165
|
|
|
24 |
Fledgling 167-310
|
|
|
29 |
Term paper
|
Develop a ten-page
(2500-3000 word) essay on some precisely-focused aspect of Butler's
Parable novels, further developing your research reports by bringing
in at least two more scholarly sources, such as other critical essays,
interviews, or book chapters. |
|
MAY 1 |
|
4:30-7:00 p.m. |