English (ENGL) 423

Overview

ENGL 423 examines the major contemporary theories of literature and their application in practical criticism.

The twentieth century has seen the development of several theories of literature that have influenced our reading, understanding, and criticism of various genres and of both old and new works. The course looks at the history and nature of the following movements: Formalism, New Criticism, Reader-Response Theory, Structuralism, Psychoanalysis, Poststructuralism, Feminist Poetics, Postmodernism, and Postcolonialism.

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction: Literary Studies and Theory

Weeks 2-3: Formalism and New Criticism

Week 4: Rhetoric and Reader-Response

Weeks 5-6: Structuralism and Semiotics

Weeks 7-8: Poststructuralism, Deconstruction and Postmodernism

Week 9: Psychology and Psychoanalysis

Week 10: First Assignment

Weeks 11-12: Historical Criticism

Weeks 13-14-15: Feminism and Gender Studies

Weeks 16-17: Postcolonialist Theories

Week 18: Second Assignment

Weeks 19-20: Cultural Studies

Week 21: Final Examination

Evaluation

To receive credit for ENGL 423, you must complete and achieve a minimum grade of “D” (50 percent) on each essay and final examination and achieve an overall grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the entire course. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:

Assignment 1: Research Essay	Assignment 2: Research Essay	Final Examination	Total
25%	35%	40%	100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.