ENG 391 - Literary Criticism and Theory

This course investigates fundamental questions about what literature is and why it matters. What counts as literature? How does literature produce meaning? What is the relationship between literature and society? Can we read our lives like we read a text? In recent decades, literary critics and theorists from across the globe have revolutionized our understanding of both literature and the world. This course will survey contemporary developments in global literary criticism and theory while situating them within a long history stretching back to the ancients. Key topics will include ecocriticism, critical race studies, gender studies, translation studies, disability studies, postcolonial studies, and media theory.

Satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives requirement.
Satisfies the Diversity requirement in the English major.

Prerequisites & Notes
First-year students require permission of the instructor.