English 243-002
Women's Literature: Wild Women in Contemporary Literature
Instr: Amy Murre
Office: CRT 573, 229-6047
e-mail: almurre@uwm.edu
Office hours: by appointment.
Course Information: TR 8:00-9:15, CRT 124
Course Description
This class explores representations of the "Wild Woman" in works of literature by women, using Estes' Women Who Run with the Wolves as a starting to point to identify the archetype. Estes' text uses old myths and fairy tales involving women to establish a center of power and autonomy for her women readers. The book presents a number of well-known tales from the European tradition, as well as myths and legends from other places of the world. Estes' in depth analysis of each text interprets the tales as ones that will help troubled women find their way through, and heal, their psyches. Ten years after it's publication, Estes' text continues to be popular. We will first discuss and analyze the usefulness or validity of Estes' claims (valid research, or "pop psychology"?). We will discuss the ways in which Estes interprets the tales, and also look at other interpretations of those stories. Finally, we will establish just what a woman who "runs with the wolves" is - this is the wild woman of the course title.
Once the theory of the "wild woman archetype" has been established a bit, we will begin to read novels, theory, and poetry. All of the fiction under analysis is woman-authored. Through these texts, which cover the last quarter of the 20th century, we will examine the potential empowerment - and harm - this archetype may offer to contemporary women. We will also explore the different types of woman that could be included under "wild woman" and the different ways the writers in question have applied these types. In applying Estes' theories to these works of fiction, we will deeply explore questions such as: What tensions are present in women's uses of the "wild woman" character in their fiction? Do female authors find the "wild woman" useful, threatening, or some combination? What are the effects of such characters on the male reader? We will also discuss male writers' uses of "wild women" in their texts, exploring the differences and similarities between men's and women's texts.
Texts:
- Estes, Clarissa Pinkola, PhD. Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype. NY: Ballantine Books, 1992.
- Morrison, Toni. Paradise. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.
- Proulx, E. Annie. The Shipping News. NY: Touchstone, 1993.
- Course reader including relevant brief critical and theoretical extracts, as well as poetry and perhaps short fiction utilizing the wild woman theme
- Another contemporary novel will be added to the reading list, to be announced. All novels will be ones published after Estes' text, but poetry and critical texts will also include selections written before 1992.
Reading and discussion will make up the bulk of the day-to-day activity of this course. Each student will be expected to bring a brief written prompt to each class meeting to foster discussion of the day's reading. These prompts (about 1/2 page) will be graded based on the quality of the ideas and effort, as well as the quality of the writing itself. In addition, each student will be expected to give one (or a few) brief class presentation(s), in which s/he will read his/her written prompt for the day aloud and then add some commentary or questions to get the class discussion rolling. Students will give presentations on a rotating schedule, so the number of presentations each student is required to give over the course of the semester will depend upon the number of students enrolled in the class. We will have at least one presentation per day; again, the number of actual presentations each student will be responsible for will depend upon enrollment, but will not be more than 3. These presentations will receive a grade separate from the written prompt alone. Students will also be required to write two papers, a shorter midterm essay and a longer final project due at the semester's close. They will also turn in a research proposal for this final project sometime after midterm, to get them started on the task. Final grades will be based upon these assignments, as well as solid class participation.
