Investigates how literature has constructed and depicted the end of the world. Students examine the literature of Doomsday across periods and cultures, mapping varied expectations for "the end time" from the ancients to the modern day. The course explores what these doomsday depictions suggest apart from eschatological prophecy. Doomsday themes frequently boom during times of ideological crisis, and the course investigates the "rhetoric of Doomsday" as it is used to inspire both hope and fear in the face of potential catastrophe. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or instructor permission. Fulfills general education requirement in literature. [ 3 credits ]