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This article introduces a case of teaching Contemporary American Literature, guided by trauma studies. Having trauma as a major topic for the course helps the course pursue broader objectives than learning about specific literary texts and teach students to think critically and become empathetic. The article has three parts: (1) how a "mini activity" can be executed to break an ice and also to help students imagine what it is like to go through a traumatic event; (2) what kind of trauma theories can be brought up in class; (3) how each text can be read. The third part briefly discusses the following texts in the perspective of trauma studies. Maus, Beloved, A Gesture Life, Native Speaker, American Born Chinese, Falling Man, In the Shadow of No Towers, and Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. At the end of the article, a list of other materials recommended to broaden students' intellectual scope is provided.
Eunju Hwang (Thu,) studied this question.