ENGL 452

Fall 2026 All Classes

All Classes

The Postwar Era and Contemporary American Literature

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Examines American literature from the end of WWII to today, an era when U.S. society, politics, and culture came under pressure from such upheavals as the feminist movement, the Civil Rights movement, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the rise of neoliberalism--all of them occurring under the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation. While writers struggled with the changes and dangers of a nation and world in such unprecedented flux, the poetry, plays, fiction, memoirs, and films they produced in response to this new precariousness forged a fertile artistic moment, in popular literature that sustained previous traditions (in realism, science fiction, children's literature, and romance) and in an avant-garde opposed to all forms of social and literary conformity. Writers studied might include Gwendolyn Brooks, Thomas Pynchon, Amiri Baraka, David Foster Wallace, Toni Morrison, Tony Kushner, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Alice Walker.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

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ENGL 452 class schedule data for fall 2026
	Status		CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
			64568	Lecture-Discussion	1G	1:00PM -1:50PM	MWF	137 Henry Administration Bldg	Morris, D	Availability: CrossListOpen (Restricted) Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/24/26-12/09/26 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: FA26 ENGL 452 - Contemporary American Literature - Dave Morris - This course examines American literature from 1945 to today, an era when U.S. society, politics, and culture came under pressure from such upheavals as the feminist movement, the Civil Rights movement, the Cold War, Vietnam, the rise of neoliberalism, the War on Terror, and resurgent nationalism--all of them occurring under threats of nuclear annihilation, attack, and economic risk. While writers struggled with the changes and dangers of a nation and world in such unprecedented flux, the poetry, plays, fiction, speeches, and films they produced within this precariousness forged a fertile artistic moment, in popular literature that sustained previous traditions (in realism, science fiction, children's literature, and romance) and in an avant-garde opposed to all forms of social and literary conformity. Writers and artists studied will include Octavia Butler, Becky Chambers, Allen Ginsberg, Junot Diaz, Toni Morrison, Flannery O’Connor, Jordan Peele, Thomas Pynchon, Kurt Vonnegut, and others. Course work will include three analytical papers (with first drafts, revisions, and some research) and active class participation. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
			64567	Lecture-Discussion	1U	1:00PM -1:50PM	MWF	137 Henry Administration Bldg	Morris, D	Availability: CrossListOpen (Restricted) Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/24/26-12/09/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Info: FA26 ENGL 452 - Contemporary American Literature - Dave Morris - This course examines American literature from 1945 to today, an era when U.S. society, politics, and culture came under pressure from such upheavals as the feminist movement, the Civil Rights movement, the Cold War, Vietnam, the rise of neoliberalism, the War on Terror, and resurgent nationalism--all of them occurring under threats of nuclear annihilation, attack, and economic risk. While writers struggled with the changes and dangers of a nation and world in such unprecedented flux, the poetry, plays, fiction, speeches, and films they produced within this precariousness forged a fertile artistic moment, in popular literature that sustained previous traditions (in realism, science fiction, children's literature, and romance) and in an avant-garde opposed to all forms of social and literary conformity. Writers and artists studied will include Octavia Butler, Becky Chambers, Allen Ginsberg, Junot Diaz, Toni Morrison, Flannery O’Connor, Jordan Peele, Thomas Pynchon, Kurt Vonnegut, and others. Course work will include three analytical papers (with first drafts, revisions, and some research) and active class participation. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.