The Experience of Total War

In this course we will explore how the two greatest conflicts of the 20th century--the First and Second World Wars--shaped the everyday lives of ordinary men and women. We will address such themes and problems as: the motivations to fight, war's role in individual development, the sources of obedience and mutiny, the phenomena of atrocity and genocide, experiences on the home front, and the reflection of war in culture and memory. Students will think critically across genres and national boundaries and will analyze fiction, personal narrative, and poetry from a historical perspective.