Ethics of Toni Morrison

Instructor: Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D.

Course Synopsis

Contemplating the evolving literary genius of Toni Morrison, this course identifies the moral constellation that underpins Morrison’s work.  Specifically, this course traces Morrison’s treatment of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, region, and religion.  The course also gives attention to the ways that Morrison integrates a treatment of these subjects through critical historical analysis and draws from creative archives to lay a foundation for her work.  This course invites students to consider the relationship between race and ethics, ethics and time, religion and sexuality, color and gender, and literature and place.

To view the full syllabus, please click here .

Course Overview

Course Objectives

Degree Learning Goals: Please take some time to look over the Professional Degree Learning Goals (MDiv, MASC, MAPSC) and the Academic Degree Learning Goals (MTS, MA).

Incompletes:  If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.