Meanings and Models of Motherhood in European History and Literature

Catalog description

This course examines motherhood as a social, historical, and literary construct. We will discuss how motherhood was defined in a variety of historical cultures: the work assigned to or expected of mothers; the ideal of the "good mother;" the relationship between mothers and fathers; and the legal position of mothers. At the same time, we will examine motherhood and mothers in a variety of literary texts from the same periods, discussing motherhood as metaphor. Students will also design their own Web pages on a maternal figure or topic.