This class will discuss three ethnic American novels interspersed with a book of classic fairy tales through the lens of mourning and personal development. 

The goal of the class is to teach about the grief process and how to apply it to the student’s life and unresolved losses. 

By teaching students how to read a work of fiction through mourning theory—as well as teaching differences among literary critiques and how to apply the lessons from literature, analyzed in a particular way, to the student’s own life, abstract mourning theory becomes more tangible. This, in turn, allows the student to understand the importance of resolving grief, but more importantly, HOW to resolve it when loss occurs in his or her own life or how to help a friend or family member through a loss. 

Schedule and Syllabus (Tentative)

October 4^th Introduction to Class / Overview

October 6^th Introduction to Literary Criticism. Examples of the frameworks that have been used to analyze these three works of fiction.  Begin Introduction to Mourning Theory and when and how to "frame" situations in mourning context.

October 11^th Introduction to Mourning Theory cont'd. The Importance of Resolving Unresolved Grief. Discussion of intergenerational grief, ethnic grief and issues that arise through trauma and loss.  How the student should use class material to analyze unresolved loss in his or her own life througout the course.  Personalizing the journey through journaling. 

October 13^th Introduction to WWRWW and the story Nosing Out The Facts

October 18^th Discussion of Nosing Out The Facts (cont'd)

Classes 10/20 through 11/1 (4 classes): Discussion of Ceremony by Leslie Silko

11/3: 18^th Discussion of WWRWW story: Finding one's pack: belonging as blessing

Classes 11/8-11/22 Discussion of Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

No class 11/24

Class 11/29 Discussion of WWRWW Self-preservation: identifying leg traps, cages, and poisoned bait

Classes 12/1-12/13 Discussion of Final Payments by Mary Gordon

Class 12/15 Discussion of WWRWW story : Marking Territory: The Boundaries of Rage and Forgiveness  

Classes 12/20 WRAP UP

FULL PRICE OF COURSE: $499.00 (includes lectures, private and secure forum space, all handouts, feedback, private conference with instructor [optional])

EARLY BIRD REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 10th $424.00 ($75 off)

MULTIREGISTER: Register for 2 after September 10 and pay in full for $464.00 each ($70 off)

EARLY BIRD MULTIREGISTER: Register for 2 and pay in full by Sept 10th for ($220 off)

PAY IN TWO PAYMENTS BY 10/3 for $25 discount  $474.00