Writing Animals & Nonhuman Creatures *Online* *NEW*

From the mysterious raven in Poe’s poem to the dangerous goat in “The Witch” to otherworldly mermaids in folklore and fairy tales, nonhuman animals often function as extensions of human desires, fear, and fantasy. In this class, we’ll study a variety of creatures (from dogs and cats to monkeys and goats to vampire bats, selkies, and shapeshifters) in literature and films by Guillermo del Toro, Robert Eggers, Bram Stoker, Daphne du Maurier, Angela Carter, Nalo Hopkinson, and more. We’ll explore how writers use nonhuman creatures to confront questions of identity, family, love, science, and superstition. Through close reading and writing exercises, we’ll learn to create fascinating tales with unforgettable characters.

Instructor: Mimi Manyini