Canada is often referred to as a country of immigrants. And immigrant experience, as portrayed in the works of Canada’s foremost authors, is the focus of a new course being offered at Thompson Rivers University beginning in January 2011: “The Literature of Canadian Immigrants.”
“Immigrants to Canada find themselves in a fascinating middle ground, caught between their own heritage and the realities of life in their new adopted country,” says Professor Thomas Friedman, whose course will introduce students to literary works giving voice to the struggles that immigrants face.
Starting from the exploration narratives by David Thompson and John Franklin, Canadian literature is marked by poetry and prose that dramatizes the conflicting impulses of exile from one’s homeland, attempts to “fit in” to a new reality, and the desire to preserve culture and language. The course reading list includes works by major Canadian writers, such as Susanna Moodie, Mordecai Richler and Michael Ondaatje, as well as those by other immigrant writers from Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
“Students will find that studying these works will enrich their own life experiences, “ says Friedman. “Coming to university can be compared to entering a new world of discovery and challenges, making the immigrant experience one worthy of attention and contemplation.”
Friedman, a Canadian literature specialist who has taught at TRU for the past 18 years, was motivated to develop this course in response to his own family’s history. “When I read fiction by Mordecai Richler, who shared my own cultural heritage, I recognize and am able to link his fictional world to aspects of my own personality and world view. My hope is that students will experience a similar recognition when they encounter the diverse group of literary works this course offers.”
ENGL 2400 will be offered on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for the TRU Winter Semester, starting on January 9th.
For further information about the course please check out the TRU Calendar at tru.ca/calendar or e-mail Dr. Friedman at tfriedman@tru.ca.
