In this course, students will gain an introduction to some major themes in and approaches to literary theory across multiple genres, including drama, poetry, the novel, and prose. We will question the continued relevance of "English" as a framework for the study of literature in the United States, thinking through global approaches and what Ngugi wa Thiong'o calls "decolonizing the mind" and language as a central tool of both liberation and oppression. We will turn to ancient Western texts, as they provide a different set of terms through which to orient literary study. We will consider the major tensions that develop across these modalities, focusing on issues of language, representation, power, appearance, and reality. We will consider several critical works by writers themselves and the difference between criticism and theory. We will draw readings from psychoanalysis, feminism, Marxism, critical race studies, gender and sexuality studies, affect theory, narrative theory, and postcolonialism. Students are expected to have a basic familiarity with literature, and it is advisable to have taken at least one 2000-level course in Literature.

In this course, students will gain an introduction to some major themes in and approaches to literary theory across multiple genres, including drama, poetry, the novel, and prose. We will question the continued relevance of "English" as a framework for the study of literature in the United States, thinking through global approaches and what Ngugi wa Thiong'o calls "decolonizing the mind" and language as a central tool of both liberation and oppression. We will turn to ancient Western texts, as they provide a different set of terms through which to orient literary study. We will consider the major tensions that develop across these modalities, focusing on issues of language, representation, power, appearance, and reality. We will consider several critical works by writers themselves and the difference between criticism and theory. We will draw readings from psychoanalysis, feminism, Marxism, critical race studies, gender and sexuality studies, affect theory, narrative theory, and postcolonialism. Students are expected to have a basic familiarity with literature, and it is advisable to have taken at least one 2000-level course in Literature.