FSEM 100W9 | Literature and the Supernatural

Paradise Lost 12.jpg - Illustration for John Milton's Paradise Lost by Gustave Doré (1866). The spiritual descent of Lucifer into Satan.

The history of literature is inextricably bound up with various forms of the supernatural. This course will examine how the supernatural has meant different things in different times and places, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern Hollywood. Our examination of the supernatural will range across magic, gods, ghosts, and monsters; our discussion of the supernatural’s meaning will address ecology, sexuality, political power, psychoanalysis, gender, race, and literary form, among other topics. Along the way we will experience—and take time simply to enjoy—some of the great works of world literature. Readings will likely include Gilgamesh, Beowulf, The Bacchae, the first books of Paradise Lost, The Turn of the Screw, “The Call of Cthulhu,” and a movie of the class’s choosing.

Photo of Ben LaBreche, Professor of English, Linguistics, and Communication

Ben LaBreche, Professor of English, Linguistics, and Communication

Ben LaBreche is a professor of English literature whose research focuses on the intersection of literature with politics and social theory, especially in connection with the seventeenth century. He enjoys teaching classes that cross temporal, national, and disciplinary boundaries, and he is always interested in the origins of modernity and the challenges of living in a modern, rationalized world. His past teaching includes courses on monsters, sexuality, and liberty, as well as introductory literature courses and more specialized courses on early modern English literature. When he is not reading or writing, he is likely to be taking his kids to the park, crafting something, playing music very, very poorly, or doing some more reading.

Image Credit: Paradise Lost 12.jpg - Illustration for John Milton's Paradise Lost by Gustave Doré (1866). The spiritual descent of Lucifer into Satan. by Gustave Doré, Public Domain.