THE KING'S UNIVERSITYTHE KING'S UNIVERSITY| COURSE NUMBER: | ENGL 404 | |||||||||||||||
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| COURSE TITLE: | Anxiety to Apotheosis: Literary Theory from Plato to Pater | |||||||||||||||
| NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: | Arlette Zinck | |||||||||||||||
| CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: | credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0) | |||||||||||||||
| COURSE DESCRIPTION: | Are fictional stories harmful lies, or are they the embodiments of
sacred inspiration? The debate over the nature and worth of imaginative
literature has oscillated between the extremes of
anxiety over its negative powers to euphoria over its apotheotic
potential. In this course we will conduct a chronological study of some
of the most influential statements in literary theory from the
classical period to the conclusion of the 19th century. Theoretical
approaches have become central
to literary discussions in the 20th century, and they promise to
maintain their dominant position into the new millennium. A sound
understanding of contemporary theoretical practice is dependant upon an
awareness of, and a familiarity with, the major historical discussions
that inform it. This course will investigate the issues and assumptions
that characterize the theory of the earlier periods, and in so doing,
it will prepare students grapple with the theoretical concerns of our
own era. Prerequisites: ENGL 314. | |||||||||||||||
| REQUIRED TEXTS: |
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| MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT: |
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| COURSE OBJECTIVES: | Of what value is imaginative literature? Do texts produce
meaning? Do authors? Do readers? What role does historical
context play in shaping the production and reception of a literary
text? Although we often associate questions of this sort with the
schools of literary theory that have arisen in the academy since the
1960’s, discussions of this sort have occurred since the time of Plato
and, perhaps, before. In this course we will acquaint ourselves
with some of these questions and with the answers that have been given
to them before the contemporary era of theory. As we read and
talk about the foundational texts in English literary theory, we will
search to discover the assumptions that underlie both the questions
posed and the answers offered. Our objectives for this course are twofold. First, we will seek an appreciation of the issues that shape historical literary criticism and we will investigate to discover the degree to which these ideas have been shaped by, or are amenable to, the foundational assumptions of the Christian faith. Are theory and faith mutually incompatible? We will do our best to find out. Next, we will work to establish a foundation for your study of contemporary literary theories by searching out the themes and issues that carry forward from these early texts into the discussions that have animated the academy in the current era. We will approach the course material in chronological sections. This will allow us to evaluate roughly sequential issues and authors in order to assess incremental development of ideas, and to identify important new thoughts and approaches. Class discussion will form an essential component of the course. In order to ensure that we make the most of our discussions, we will hold each other to a rigorous standard of preparation. Reading must be completed in advance of class discussions; substantial credit will be assigned for successful completion of required readings. (See grade allocations listed below.) | |||||||||||||||
| COURSE OUTLINE: |
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Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary
from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult
the course instructor for up to date details.
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