LITR 4333 2003 American Immigrant Literature: Final Exam

Date: Thursday, 11 December

Format: In-class or email; open-book and open-notebook; two complete essays

Time:

·        The exam should take about two hours to complete, but you may use the entire class period or equivalent (2 hours and 50 minutes).

·        In-class students will be given the exam at 7pm and must turn in answers by 9:50pm.

·        All students will be emailed the exam at approximately 6:45pm, at which time the exam will also be posted on the course webpage. Email students must mail in the exam by 11pm. The time is more flexible to account for possible interruptions. However, email students should spend no more than 2 hours and 50 minutes in writing the exam, and they should keep a log indicating when they start and stop. (Pauses or interruptions are okay.) 

"Supersize Question" (at least one hour) on the dominant culture, Jewish American immigration, and the Exodus story.

Texts:

You must refer to

Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation,

Bread Givers

the Exodus story from the Bible

Refer to at least 1 of the following prose anthology pieces:

Sonia Pilcer, “2G” (VA 201-206)

Eva Hoffman, from Lost in Translation (VA 219-228)

Anzia Yezierska, “Soap and Water” (handout)

Jonathan Raban, from Hunting Mr. Heartbreak (VA, 344-356)

Refer to at least 1 of the following poems:

Louis Simpson, “A Story about Chicken Soup,” UA 245

Gregg Shapiro, “Tattoo,” UA 34-5

Michael S. Glaser, “Preparations for Seder,” UA 176

Enid Dame, “On the Road to Damascus, Maryland,” UA 141

Lyn Lifshin, “Being Jewish in a Small Town,” UA 144

Question:

How do the narrative of America’s dominant culture (Of Plymouth Plantation) and the related narratives of Jewish American culture (Bread Givers) and the ancient Jews (the Exodus story) resemble and differ from the “standard immigrant narrative?” What specific values or identities does this narrative create in these cultures? 

• You’re welcome to make comparisons with other texts, narratives, and cultures beyond the texts designated.

"Large Question" (45 mns-1hr) on Asian American and Middle Eastern Immigrants.

Texts:

You must refer to Monkey Bridge

Refer to at least 2 of the following prose anthology pieces:

Sui Sin Far, "In the Land of the Free" (IA 3-11)

Gish Jen, “In the American Society” (IA 158-171)

Maxine Hong Kingston, from The Woman Warrior (VA 195-200)

Bharati Mukherjee, “A Wife’s Story” (IA 57-69)

Bharati Mukherjee, “Love Me or Leave Me” (VA 187-194)

Chitra Divakaruni, “Silver Pavements, Golden Roofs” (IA 70-83)

Mikhail Naimy, “His Grace” (IA 115-120)

Tahira Naqvi, “Thank God for the Jews” (IA 229-236)

Anton Shammas, “Amerka, Amerka: A Palestinian Abroad in the Land of the Free” (VA 291-300);

Refer to at least 1 of the following poems:

Nellie Wong, “When I was Growing Up,” UA 55

Shirley Geok-lin Lim, “Father from Asia,” UA 19

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, “Restroom,” UA 21-23

Gregory Djanikian, “In the Elementary School Choir,” UA 215

Hamod (Sam), “After the Funeral of Assam Hamady,” UA 288

Assignment / Question:

The stories of Asian Americans and Middle Eastern Americans generally resemble the standard immigrant narrative, but what special challenges do these groups from “The Old World” face when they enter American culture, and how do they respond?

• Regarding their responses, you might consider questions of assimilation or resistance, adaptation, and issues of gender, equality, family, and community.

• You’re welcome to compare their experiences with those of other immigrant groups or minority groups studied elsewhere in the semester.