Course description:
This
course introduces the fundamental techniques of literary analysis. The
goal of the course is to provide the critical vocabulary and skills with which
to understand not only what a literary text means, but also how it shapes
meaning. The course also emphasizes development of the skills necessary for
analytical writing about literature and the importance of composing clear and
compelling arguments in the interpretation of a text. Required to the first
year English Course, beginning with the class of 2011, in the second
semester.
Questions we
will be asking this semester:
What tools do writers use to shape their texts?
How do writers respond to one another’s work?
What constitute a “literary tradition” and why?
What distinguishes “literature” from other kinds of
texts?
What are the different kinds (genres) of literary
texts and how they differ?
What is a “close reading”?
What is fiction?
What is the relationship between literature and
culture?
What is literary criticism?
How can we decide if a literary interpretation is
valid?
How can we construct a persuasive argument about a
literary text?
Texts for this
course:
Poetry:
Langston Hughes poetry:
- I, too,
sing, America;
- Life is
Fine;
- I took
the elevator;
- Dream
Variation.
Walt Whitman’s poetry:
- Song of
Myself;
- On The
Beach at Night Alone;
- To A
Stranger;
- A Saw in
Lousiana A Live-Oak Growing;
- O
Captain! My Captain.
William Shakespear’s sonnet XXVII and LXXIII.
Elizabeth Browning’s sonnet XLIII.
Short Story:
Guy Maupassant, “The Necklace”.
Novel:
Daniel Dafoe, Robinson Crusoe, W. W. Norton Critical
Edition, 2d (ISBN 0393964523) [NB: The student should get this edition if
possible, because it brings historical and critical material included].
Objectives of this Course:
The students
will be introduced to the essential elements of literature and will use
knowledge and methodology to analyze texts; become familiar with the
terminology of literary studies; demonstrate critical thinking skills in
analyzing texts; increase their skills and abilities of critical thinking
through practical commenting, interpreting and analyzing texts; be able to
determine the historical aspects of the literature they are studying;
strengthen their reading and writing skills through activities based on the
text introduced and used throughout the semester.
Specific Objectives:
Students will
be asked to critically examine pieces of literary texts and analyze them with
knowledge of both the author and historical context; examine and determine the
themes of the text; become familiar with a variety if writing forms included,
poetry, short stories, and the novel; gain knowledge and experience analyzing
works based on a variety of elements including language, setting,
characterization, themes, and conflict; improve their reading and writing
skills, as well as their understanding of written and spoken English.
Teaching
Methodologies
All the
methodology used in this course will incorporate elements of theoretical, theoretical-practice
and practical lessons. Students will work as a whole class, in small groups,
and individually, with the help of teacher as guide, to analyze and explore the
field of literature. Students will be given information regarding how to
analyze text, and through debate and small group work, students will use this
information to practice analyzing text independently.
3. Evaluation Methods
The evaluation
will be based upon the participation, the text and materials assigned to the students (40%). The
evaluation will also include two written texts (60%), on a scale from 0-20 according to the
rules of UNICV.
Course Content
Poetry
- Genres;
- Settings;
- Speaker;
- Theme;
- Word Usage and Vocabulary;
- Figurative Language;
- Rhyme Scheme and Pattern
Short Story:
- Settings;
- Characterization
- Protagonist;
- Antagonist;
- Plot
o
Suspense
and Foreshadowing;
o
Climax;
o
Irony
- Themes
Novel:
- Historical Context;
- Setteings;
- Characterization
- Plot
- Conflict and Resolution
References
Passive
Reading
Aguiar e
Silva, Vitor Manuel (2008), Teoria e
Metodologia Literárias, Universidade Aberta. [DCSH-SV].
Aguiar e
Silva (1988), Teoria da Literatura,
Almedina.
Calderwood, James e Toliver, Haroold (1968), Perspective on Poetry, Oxford University
Press. [DCSH-SV].
Machado,
José Pedro s/d, Ensaios Literários e
Linguístico, Editorial Notícias. [DCSH-SV].
Reis, Carlos (1995), O Conhecimento da Literatura, Almedina. [DCSH-SV].
Reis Carlos, ibidem, (1995), Caderno de Apoio, Almedina. [DCSH-SV]
Angenot, Marc (eds.) et al (1989), Théorie litéraire, Paris, PUF.
Delcroix,
Maurice, Hallyn, Fernando (1987), Méthode
du texte, Introduction aux Etudes Littéraire, Paris-Genboux, Duculot
Dominguez, Caparrós,
José (2 1989), Crítica Literária,
Madrid, UNED
Fayolle, Roger, (1978), La Critique Littéraire, Paris.
Hernadi, Paul (1981), What is criticism?, Bloomington, Indiana University Press.
Hohendahl, Peter Uwe (1982), The institution of criticism, Ithaca-London, Cornell University
Press.
Welleck, René, (1963), Concept of Criticism, New Haven, Yale University Press.
Active
Reading
Langston
Hughes, The Dream Keeper, 1932
Walt Withman, Leaves
of Grass, 1855
WillamShakespear,
Sonnets
Elizabeth
Browning, Sonnets
Guy Maupassant, “The Necklace”.
Daniel Dafoe, Robinson Crusoe, W. W. Norton Critical
Edition, 2d (ISBN 0393964523).
Dictionaries
Oxford
Advanced Learners Dictionary, 2000
The Oxford Dictionary of Literary
Terms, 2008
Electronic
Sources
0 comments:
Post a Comment