In the technical sense, “literature” is anything that is written. That isn’t much help, is it?
Literary studies defines its field not as “anything that is written,” but anything that is written in an “artistic” fashion, meaning that what it has to say might not be directly expressed, but rather that its content cannot be conveyed outside of its particular form.
This course will offer students ways of reading that attend to the interactions of form and content. One way of thinking about this aspect is that it strives to answer the question “How does Literature work?”
We will also ask the question, “What does literature do?”
It both teaches and delights, said the Roman poet, Horace. But what does it teach while entertaining us? Literature has always engaged with the culture that produces it, reinforcing or questioning values. We should also ask how literature produces culture.
The most important question to ask is probably, “Why is Literature?” No society has ever not had a literary forms—be it oral storytelling, song, poetry, drama or prose fiction. We seem to need it.
This course will: examine a wide variety of literary forms; attend to the nuts and bolts of literary expression; introduce the practice of close reading that stands behind literary analysis; consider the implications of literature in the world in which we live.
Readings
Poetry, prose fiction and drama from multiple eras.
Assessment
- Writing exercises
- An essay
- In-class writing
- A final exam
- Participation in tutorial discussions
**Subject to change**
Additional information
Exclusion Maximum of 6.0 units of ENGL at the 100-level.
