Does literature have a national identity? In what ways might Canadian writing be different from works produced in England, or Scotland, or the U.S.A.? Does Canadian literature display features of colonialist literature, and of post-colonialist literature? If there is a Canadian literary identity, what causes this, and in what ways does it express itself?

Students will be expected to read in the areas of the theory of colonial and post-colonial literature; the history of Canada; and Canadian literary history, and to apply their reading in these areas to texts by American writers. Students will be encouraged to suggest texts for study. However, the texts studied will attempt to cover the history of Canadian prose writing in English from colonial times to the present day.

Assessment will be by class presentation of a particular topic chosen by the student, and by one paper.