Through a close study of both classic and contemporary works in the selected literary genres, students gain valuable experience in discussing, analyzing and writing about literature using a critical discourse appropriate to each genre. Each text studied allows students to sample the particular writer and his/her work; to appreciate his/her place in the literary canon; and to learn the basic literary techniques (narrative elements, poetic devices, etc.), as best suited to an introductory module. Among the techniques discussed are the narrative elements of plot and structure, character, setting, point of view, allegory and symbol, language and style; the role of figurative and sensory language, sound and rhyme, speaker and imagery in poetry, etc. Overarching themes include literature as art, literature in education and in everyday life. The readings are supplemented by recordings of poems or movie excerpts where works of poets studied appear (Auden in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Whitman in The Dead Poets’ Society) or short documentaries from YouTube or Open Culture that provide an accessible introduction to the texts. Students are also encouraged to do creative assignments that will allow them to better grasp authorial choices and reflect on their own personal engagement.
- Instructor: Eleni Godi