L.ENG 145 - Literature and Public Life-EI

Credits: 3

This course is an introduction to literary studies. Students will be invited to think about the purpose and value of studying literature, and introduced to the interpretive reading skills and critical vocabulary of basic textual analysis which will be important to their careers as students of literature and/or creative writing. Students will learn how to ask questions of a text; additionally, they will learn how to write about the elements of literature, including, for example, plot, character, setting, ideas, point of view, imagery, metaphor, and symbolism. Students will also be introduced to questions of canonicity, the scholarly conversations around a text, and different theoretical approaches to a text/context/author. This course emphasizes practical instruction in writing literary analysis essays, inclusive of mastery of form and interpretive style. It also includes instruction in the basic principles of source use in literary criticism, including proper use of quotations and citation. In sum, students will learn strategies of reading, writing, learning and loving literature.
Prerequisite: None
Co-requisite: None
General Education Classification: Identity, Culture, and Society-EI