LLSW
2865

American Women Writers: Patterns of Bondage and Escape

Eugene Lang College Lib Arts: Literary Studies

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
American Women Writers
Spring 2026
Taught By: Elizabeth Kendall
Section: A

CRN: 16720

Credits: 4

In this course we will read some of the classic American women writers (along with some unexpected ones) – whose work is as important to our national lineage as classic American male writers such as Melville, Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Course writers include novelists, poets, and essayists. As we read, we will examine how each writer addresses, in her own way, themes of bondage (various kinds of enslavement, literal and figurative), as well as possible pathways to escape or liberation. Course texts will include work by writers such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Jacobs, Emily Dickinson, Edith Wharton, Willa Cather, Zora Neal Hurston, Nella Larsen, Elizabeth Bishop, Gwendolyn Brooks, Carmen Maria Machado, Margo Jefferson, with some possible excursions into the work of women auteurs of modern dance and urban blues.

This course can count towards Reading for Writers requirement.

Prerequisites: No Prerequisites
Co-Requisites: No Co-requisites

College: Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)

Department: Literary Studies (LIT)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 18

Repeat Limit: N/A

Add/Drop Deadline: February 3, 2026 (Tuesday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 14, 2026 (Tuesday)

Seats Available: Yes

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 5:16pm EDT 10/28/2025

Meeting Info:
Days: Tuesday, Thursday
Times: 10:00am - 11:40am
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 1/21/2026 - 5/12/2026