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”I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers. I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer—and what trees and seasons smelled like—how people looked and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich.”
John Steinbeck, East of Eden
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) is considered not only one of the most canonical American writers of the twentieth century, but also one of the most productive ones. The scope of his writings encompasses novels, stories, traveling journals, reports and commentaries, theatre plays and screen plays. Born as he was in Salinas Valley in Northern California, much of Steinbeck’s fiction is set in that region, making him one of the most important regional writers of the Golden State. In this class, we will read closely two of Steinbeck’s California fictions—Tortilla Flat (1935) and East of Eden (1952)—and consider, among other aspects, their relation to the region of their setting and the part they play in California’s image in the collective imagination. In order to obtain credit for this course, you will have to give an oral presentation and write a term paper at the end of the term. Participation in class discussions and regular attendance are expected.
You will need to purchase a copy of following editions of the two novels for this course:
Steinbeck, John. Tortilla Flat. Penguin Classics, 2000. (Penguin Modern Classics, New Edition). ISBN 978-0141185118.
Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. Penguin, 2017. ISBN 978-0241980354. |
