In A Theory of Adaptation, Linda Hutcheon writes that “art is derived from other art; stories are born of other stories.” This course explores the literary works for which this is most explicitly true—those based on other literary works, including prequels and sequels, retellings, adaptations to other genres and media, parodies, and creative literary criticism. As we trace the intertextual relationships between works, we will consider questions about the processes of literary history, the nature of creativity and authorship, commercialism and cultural prestige, and the politics of appropriation. In addition to extensive reading, course requirements will include response papers, a presentation, and two formal papers. Authors may include Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Bishop, J.M. Coetzee, Michael Cunningham, Daniel Dafoe, Emily Dickinson, Susan Howe, Jean Rhys, Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf.