Literary Theory and Criticism

Catalog description

This class will introduce the students to a body of ideas and methods that will offer a different understanding of literature. Literary theory allows us to look at the relationship between author and work and question the role of the author; it also allows us to look at the significance of race, class, and gender from the political, social, cultural and socio-economic framework. Literary theory offers us a multiplicity of approaches to a single text. These competing systems of inquiry often lead disagreements but as Gerald Graff argues in "Beyond Culture Wars," these disagreements are healthy and they make us better readers. The students will be required to be active participants in the discussions. The course will culminate in a research paper. (Fall) (Spring)