From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week’s column focuses on a popular, yet bleak, theme in literature, namely alienation.
Alienation can be defined as “the state of feeling estranged or separated from one’s milieu, work, products of work, or self.”
Authors notable for their works focusing on alienation include Fyodor Dostoevsky, Albert Camus, and J.D. Salinger.
Additional examples include Herman Hesse, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Ottessa Moshfegh.
What
Examples of works that focus on alienation include Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Stranger by Albert Camus, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Where
These novels are set in various geographical locations, including Imperial Russia, Algeria, and the United States.
When
The above-mentioned texts are set in the 19 and 20-centuries.
Why
Alienation, as a theme, may appeal to a wide variety of AU students, especially those who enjoy PHIL, ENGL, and SOCI courses. In particular, these works may be interesting for these students who would like to learn more about the human condition and understand why these feeling of estrangement occur across generations, across geographical lines, and beyond race, gender, and class.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to the theme of alienation are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 211: Prose Forms, a junior-level, three-credit course, which considers “a variety of fictional works in prose. The texts that will be studied in this course include American, British, and Canadian short stories and novels, ranging from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century.” (Although this course does not require prerequisites, students are encouraged to take ENGL 255: Introductory Composition). Happy reading!