18th-Century Author Study: Phillis Wheatley

This course closely examines the works of Phillis Wheatley, an 18th-Century African American poet who worked as a slave in Boston, Massachusetts. Students will study Phillis Wheatley's place in the 18th Century as an African American slave during the age of englightenment and reason and analyze how Wheatley used her writing to speak about societal, political, and religious issues/hypocrisy despite her low social standing. Students will actively and critically read several of her most well-known poems as well as some of her less-known poetry in order to discuss, through writing, prominent themes found throughout her works.