451 -- COURSE SCHEDULE
Fall 2025

Aug 26	Intro to course and each other. Vonnegut, “Harrison Bergeron.” Also, “The Things They Carried.”
28	Traditional: John Updike, “The Brown Chest”; Richard Ford, “Reunion” (with Cheever read by Ford); Russell Banks, “Lobster Night.” (all from Ecco).
Sep 2	Unreal: Richard Burgin, “The Identity Club”; Elizabeth McCracken, “Some Terpischore”; Real: Chabon, “Son of the Wolfman”; Charles Baxter, “Poor Devil.” Begin Bell Jar.
4	Continue The Bell Jar.
9	Bell Jar to end.
11	Form: Richard Bausch, “1-900”; Tobias Wolf, “Bullet in the Brain”; David Foster Wallace, “Incarnations of Burned Children.” (all from Ecco).
16	Kesey, Cuckoo’s Nest (Part 1).
18	Cuckoo part II and III.
23	Finish Kesey. Due: Cuckoo Enhancements
25	Edgy: Junot Diaz, “Aurora”; Edwidge Danticat, “Nightwomen”; George Saunders, “The Red Bow”; Chuck Palahniuk; “Escort.” (all from Ecco).
30	Begin Toni Morrison, Beloved. To 135.
Oct 2	Beloved, middle.
7	Finish Beloved Due: Enhancements Beloved.
9	Sexuality: Mary Gaitskill, “The Girl on the Plane”; Antonya Nelson, “Stitches”; Adam Haslett, “City Visit.” Due: Insight and Evidence 3
14	Ethnicity: Sherman Alexie, “The Toughest Indian in the World”; Voice: Lorrie Moore, “Paper Losses”; Denis Johnson, “Emergency.” Review.
16	Mid-term. Turn in “Madness” essay D2L Due: Madness mid-term. Mildred Barya reading during the class after ours and also later this evening Blacksburg Books.
21	Delillo, White Noise, I – “Waves and Radiation,”
23	Delillo II – “Airborne Toxic Event.”
28	Delillo, III – “Dylarama.” Due: Digests of critical essay w/ oral presentation on White Noise.
30	Begin The Road. Extra credit for 80s costume. Or dress like a bedraggled road walker.
Nov 4	Road cont’d.
6	McCarthy to end. Due: Enhancements on The Road.
11	Van Noy out
13	Bones Discuss final papers and exam.
18	Bones Insight and evidence 4.
20	Bones Discuss final papers and exam
	Thanksgiving Break
Dec 2	Egan, “Pure Language.” Franzen, “Agreeable.” Also, “Puppy,” George Saunders, and Keegan, “So Late in the Day.”
4	Review and or conferences. Final insight and evidence due.
	Exam (take home essay D2L)