Themes in Literature: Literature of Dreams: Visions, Prophecies, Nightmares

“Fled is that music:—Do I wake or sleep?” The strange visions of dreams have captivated writers across time periods and cultures, from ancient epics to modern poetry. In this class, we’ll use the topic of dreams to take a wide approach to studying literature. We’ll explore the ways in which the “in between” space of dreams – between night and day, waking and sleeping, reality and fantasy – has been a tool for writers to push the boundaries of what could be talked about. We’ll consider how dream-writing recurs and shifts across various historical periods, as writers examine the space between sleep and our waking lives.

Over the course of the semester, we’ll sharpen our critical thinking and analytical skills, and practice interpretation across a variety of genres. Students will complete three short (3-4 page) essays over the course of the semester, one of which can be a creative project. Potential readings include excerpts from The Odyssey, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, fiction by Jorge Luis Borges and Samanta Schweblin, and the poetry of Natasha Trethewey, Jackie Wang, and Federico García Lorca.