Literature
A Woman’s Life in Three Novellas: Ethan Frome, The Awakening, Quicksand
An all-levels literature course examining women’s lives, prose style and social contexts in three early twentieth-century novellas.
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Upcoming classes
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About this course
The course compares Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome and Nella Larsen’s Quicksand, considering how each novella represents women’s lives and changing social roles. It also examines the works’ historical reception and later adaptations. Teaching combines tutor presentations with small- and whole-group discussion. Close reading focuses on narrative voice, dialogue, structure and language, alongside feminist theory, critical race studies, disability studies and psychobiography.
What you'll learn
- Analyse how the novella form develops themes, characters and social commentary
- Relate the three works to their historical, social and cultural contexts
- Identify and interpret narrative techniques in prose fiction
- Apply a range of literary approaches to close reading
- Read and discuss prose fiction closely and actively
Is this course right for you?
The course is listed as suitable for all levels and is intended for learners with an enthusiasm for reading and discussing prose fiction. Participants should be willing to hear and contribute to others’ views, complete preparatory reading before sessions and take part in group discussion.
- Combines tutor presentation with small- and whole-group discussion
- Requires preparatory reading before each session
Before you go
- Learners need to buy or borrow copies of the three set texts in print or digital form.
- The novellas are freely available online, including through Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive.
- Selected extracts and other course materials are supplied in printed form by the tutor.