American Identities: What Shapes Human Identity? I - Identity has been a central subject for those living on the North American continent from the time of its earliest literary works. Aspects of identity that have influenced the development of American literature include race, gender, class, and ethnicity. In this course, we will use literary texts as a basis for discussing how American identities evolved through the period before the Civil War. Students will explore both primary and secondary sources to analyze literature using multiple critical approaches. Prerequisite: ENG-112