This is a course chiefly for majors, minors, or premajors in English language and literature. Other students who are considering an English major, or who are just interested in literary study may find this course helpful and interesting. The course's main focus is on training and practice in the analysis of various literary forms, with special emphasis on poetry. Practice includes the use of argument, evidence, and documentation in literary papers. The course also provides an introduction to some major trends in contemporary criticism, as well as to the terminology that critics and scholars use to describe the forms and styles of literary works.
While it is impossible to anticipate all the reading, speaking, and writing assignments you will encounter in advanced English courses, this course will provide you with some basic concepts and vocabulary and frequent practice in practical criticism, as well as some guidance in seeing literature in the light of various critical approaches. (English 3009 provides a more thorough introduction to modern literary theory.)
Readings: William Shakespeare, Othello .
Alexander Allison, et al., eds. Norton Anthology of Poetry,
4th Shorter Edition.
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein: Complete Authoritative Text with
Biographical and Historical Contexts, Critical History, and Essays
from Five Contemporary Perspectives, ed. Johanna M. Smith.
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Department of English,
University of Minnesota
URL: http://English.cla.umn.edu/FacultyProfiles/Ross/Courses/
Please send comments to: Donald
Ross
Last revised 15 November 1999
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