Università Roma Tre

The course focuses on the discussion, from a multiethnic and multicultural perspective, of historical, social, political and economic issues that arise from the reading of the literary selection. Special attention will be given to the analysis of the literary texts in order to understand their relationship with mainstream American literature and the national identity of the United States of America.

This course is taught in English.

Alexie, Sherman. “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock” and “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. New York: Open Road Media, 2013 (1992), 24-36, 59-75.
Alvarez, Julia. “Snow”, in How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. New York: Bloomsbury, 2004 (1991), 86-87.
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street, London: Vintage, 1991 (1984) (excerpts).
Danticat, Edwidge. “Children of the Sea” and “Caroline’s Wedding,” in Krik? Krak! New York: Soho Press, 1995, 3-25, 135-188.
Gillan, Maria Mazziotti. “Shame and Silence in My Work,” in Mary Ann Vigilante Mannino and Justin Vitiello (eds.) Breaking Open: Reflections on Italian American Women’s Writing. West Lafayette (IN): Purdue University Press, 2003, 153-175.
Lahiri, Jhumpa. “This Blessed House” and “Interpreter of Maladies,” in Interpreter of Maladies. London: Harper UK, 2000, 43-69, 136-157.
Silko, Leslie Marmon. “Yellow Woman”, in Charters, Ann (Ed.) The Story and Its Writer (9th Ed.) Boston and New York: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2015, 1208-15.
Spiegelman, Art. The Complete Maus. Harmondsworth (UK): Penguin, 2003 (1996) (excerpts).
Tusiani, Joseph. Gente Mia (excerpts), in Ethnicity. Selected Poems, New York: Bordighera Press, 2000, 1-6, 8-9.
Yamamoto, Hisaye. “Yoneko’s Earthquake,” in Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories. New Brunswick (NJ): Rutgers University Press, 2001, 46-56.