Queer Literature

This course traces the development of “queer literature” from the 16th century to the present. We will read selected texts written in English, including poetry, drama, and novels, that involve sexual and gender identities other than straight and cisgender. Selections from queer theorists, such as Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, Eve Sedgwick, and Gloria Anzaldúa, will frame our analysis of works by writers such as Christopher Marlowe, Aphra Behn, Walt Whitman, Leslie Feinberg, Audre Lorde, and Ocean Vuong. We’ll explore what constitutes a genre of literature (specifically, queer literature) by identifying themes, tropes, and other defining characteristics. Questions we’ll address include: what makes a work of literature “queer?” Does the writing of a queer-identifying author automatically become part of this tradition? Can a piece of literature be “queer” independent of the author’s identity? How does queerness intersect with other identities, including race and socioeconomic status? What is the social and political importance of queer literature? Evaluation will be based on class participation and weekly response papers, one long paper, and one short, final paper.

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