The Turn of the Screw

[grumbler]

I took a course in English lit in second year uni and a course in American lit in third year. We did Henry James in American lit. All I'm saying.

Next time don't say it using the smiley unless you want to offend people by implying that they are stupid for not knowing how your university breaks down English-language literature.  All I'm saying.

[Savonarola]

I took a course in English lit in second year uni and a course in American lit in third year. We did Henry James in American lit. All I'm saying.

I've seen TS Eliot in British compilations.  Henry James also lived most of his life in the United Kingdom and also became an British subject.  James, though, did write about the American experience; so it would make more sense to put him as an American writer. 

(Though as a self-loathing American, he was practically Canadian.   )

[Savonarola]

In Spain, "Spanish lit" courses include readings from both sides of the pond.

Are their courses that are specific to new world literature and peninsular literature in Spain?  If so how are they called?

[Sheilbh]

I've seen TS Eliot in British compilations.  Henry James also lived most of his life in the United Kingdom and also became an British subject.  James, though, did write about the American experience; so it would make more sense to put him as an American writer. 

(Though as a self-loathing American, he was practically Canadian.   )

Yep. Think you can argue for James or Eliot as British and American literature (I'd say Eliot seems a far bigger deal over here).

[CountDeMoney]

I've never finished reading anything by Henry James.

He can be tedious.

[Sheilbh]

I've never finished reading anything by Henry James.

He can be tedious.

He can be nigh on unreadable.

But he can be very good and, if you've not read it, I really recommend The Master by Colm Toibin.

[Norgy]

Henry James was definitely among those I had to read in American lit. Some short story. The Jungle, I think.
Strangely enough, no Poe, but Ralph Waldo Emerson was required. Herman Melville too, albeit just Bartleby The Scrivener, which I enjoyed a lot.

[celedhring]

In Spain, "Spanish lit" courses include readings from both sides of the pond.

Are their courses that are specific to new world literature and peninsular literature in Spain?  If so how are they called?

In general, the way literature is taught here is by breaking it down into periods "Spanish Golden Age", "XXth Century", etc... that include authors from all parts of the Spanish-speaking world. There are, however, specialty courses that usually go under the "Spanish-American literature" moniker.

Have in mind that a continuous body of Spanish-American literature didn't really appear until the XIXth century, and boomed in the XXth century, while Spain-Spanish literature has declined somewhat in the same period. So when you study Spanish lit you have all the great authors in Spain, and then the colonies become independent and suddenly all the great authors start coming from there. It's sort of organic, and given our relatively small population compared to America it makes sort of sense. Why study literature from Spain as separate from the SA literature, and not Mexican literature as separate from Chilean or Argentinian one?

[Josephus]

Henry James was definitely among those I had to read in American lit. Some short story. The Jungle, I think.
Strangely enough, no Poe, but Ralph Waldo Emerson was required. Herman Melville too, albeit just Bartleby The Scrivener, which I enjoyed a lot.

Sounds like my course...we did Emerson and his buddy, Thoreau, read Melville's Bartleby as well as James...but we also did a fair bit of Poe as well.

[Savonarola]

Henry James was definitely among those I had to read in American lit. Some short story. The Jungle, I think.
Strangely enough, no Poe, but Ralph Waldo Emerson was required. Herman Melville too, albeit just Bartleby The Scrivener, which I enjoyed a lot.

I read "Bartleby  the Scrivener" in high school.  Our teacher was from the 60s.  He thought the big mystery in the story was Bartleby's behavior; and that was caused by an unfulfilling job at meager wages.  The man had kept Bartleby down.

After reading it again years later (and being from the 90s) I think the mystery in the story is why the lawyer puts up with Bartleby for as long as he does.

[The Brain]

Do you guys study Swedish Lit?

[Josephus]

Do you guys study Swedish Lit?

all mystery novels, isn't it?

[The Brain]

Do you guys study Swedish Lit?

all mystery novels, isn't it?

Yes.

[Josephus]

and Pippi, of course, can't forget Pippi.

[grumbler]

and Pippi, of course, can't forget Pippi.

Not after he helped save Faramir!