The goal of this course is to develop a more profound learning and a deeper understanding of American culture as shaped through conflict. Our goal is to remove the artificial “wall” separating “literature” from “history” and create a cross-curricular humanities course that will examine how literature both reflects and influences change throughout history. Our driving questions will include “What is the American identity?” and “How has social conflict and war helped define that identity?”. To accomplish this task, students will analyze a variety of literature types including novels, poetry, music, journals, and other primary source documents.
Our focus this semester will be on the concept of the "hero". What makes a hero? How does the nature of conflict alter our perception of what makes a hero? How do heroes influence our perception of conflict? Is there always a hero in conflict? Are heroes still possible in modern conflict and society?