To be a citizen of the modern world, to be alive right now, might mean being always aware, on some level, of the possibility of that world (as we know it) ending.  And yet, ideas about the end of the world have hovered on the horizon of human imagination for a long time, and taken many forms, from dystopian visions of pure catastrophe to longed-for transformations.

In this course, we will explore a range of literary representations of “apocalypse” from the past century, from realist to speculative fiction—from war, to climate collapse, to zombies—much of it unavoidably inflected by our current experiences of the pandemic, climate crisis, racist violence, and political upheaval.  Developing our ideas about literary approaches to the idea of apocalypse will serve as our foundation for cultivating and practicing the kind of sophisticated analysis and argumentation required in college-level writing.

Readings will primarily consist of short stories, novels, and related texts (the occasional poem, film, folkloric tale, or article); novels might include Emily St. John Mandel’s post-pandemic Station Eleven, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. The primary work of the course will be excellent preparation and active class participation, thoughtful attention to multiple writing assignments (essays, revisions, and related exercises), and a commitment to giving helpful feedback to your peers.