Lincoln University: Department of English & Mass Communication
ENG 214.01 : Literary Criticism
Fall 2011 Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Kaukab Siddique
Office 302 UH | Phone Ext : 7515
Campus Email : ksidd37398@aol.com
Office Hours: Mon-Wed 2pm-4pm
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Eng214 has the following objectives:
Assist students to develop skills for informed criticism of literary texts
Expose students to major trends in literary criticism from Plato to Derrida
Familiarize students with major critical concepts and literary terms that can enrich appreciation, interpretation, and evaluation of literary texts.
Expose students to major critical theories that influence practical literary criticism
Provide students with skills that will facilitate and enrich their appreciation and understanding of literary texts from different parts of the world
Familiarize students with critical vocabularies
LEARNER OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
Write interpretive essays on the three belletristic genres of literature
Write critical essays in which they integrate evidence from primary and secondary texts
Discuss in written and oral presentation the evolution of literary theories
Use critical vocabularies to discuss literary texts in poetry, fiction, and drama
Apply in their written and oral presentation theory-specific critical methodologies to the interpretation and evaluation of literary texts.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Charles Bressler, Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (Fourth edition)
M.H. Abrams, A Glossary of Literary Terms (Ninth edition)
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
Kate Chopin, The Awakening
Student Opportunities
Two research papers = 30%*
Two in-class tests = 15%
Two take-home essays =10%*
Quizzes on literary concepts =10%
Midterm exam = 15%
Final exam = 15%
Book review/oral presentation = 5%
*Each student is expected to use a total of three critical approaches in his or her essays.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Each student is expected to attend class regularly and punctually.
Absences in excess of the three allowed by the university will result in lowered final grade.
Lateness will be penalized; two "lates" will be treated as one absence.
Students are expected to hand in written assignments as and when due.
This is a writing-intensive course.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Honesty in the classroom and in the preparation of papers and exams is expected of all students.
Each student has the responsibility to submit work that is incontrovertibly his or her own.
All papers submitted must adhere to the principles of academic integrity.
See Faculty Statement on Academic Integrity for additional information and guidance.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES: SCHEDULE
Week 1
Introduction to the course
Elements of literary criticism
Review of MLA documentation style.
Week 2
A Historical Survey of Literary Criticism: Defining Criticism, Chapter 1 of Literary Criticism
Glossary of Literary Terms
Week 3
A Historical Survey of Literary Criticism: Chapter 2 of Literary Criticism
Glossary of Literary Terms
Week 4
New Criticism: Chapter 3 of Literary Criticism
Glossary Pre-midterm test
Week 5
Structuralism and Deconstruction: Chapter 5 of Literary Criticism
Glossary of Literary Terms Topics for first paper due.
Week 6
Psychoanalytic Criticism: Chapter 6 of Literary Criticism
Glossary
Week 7
Macbeth First research paper due.
Week 8
Macbeth continued
Introduction to Ethnic criticism Midterm exam.
Week 9
Feminist Criticism: Chapter 7 of Literary Criticism
Chopin’s The Awakening Submission of topics for second research paper.
Week 10
Post Colonialism and African-American Criticism: Chapter 10 of Literary Criticism and Glossary
The Awakening.
Week 11
Cultural Poetics
New Historicism: Chapter 9 of Literary Criticism and reading of selections on page 270 of Literary Criticism Pre-final test
Week 12
Elements of book review Presentation of book review
Week 13
Marxist Criticism: Chapter 8 of Literary Criticism
Glossary
Week 14
Review
Presentation of research paper Second research paper due.