ENGLIT 217 Mythology
- Instructor: Ruth Salter, MFA (see Ruth Salter’s faculty profile)
- Mode: Online
Myths are powerful, enduring narratives that provide us with essential tools for understanding human culture–including values, rituals, and artistic expression–as well as guidance for living a full and satisfying life. At its heart, ENGLIT 217 surveys the various ways global cultures have approached the essential questions of human experience: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What happens after we die? Learning more about the diverse ways people have responded to these questions will invite you to reflect upon the origins of your own values and beliefs.
ENGLIT 261: Literary History I
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Black (see Jennifer Black’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
Travel around the world and across time as we explore the history of literature from its earliest beginnings through the early modern period. We will read stories of desperate quests, perilous journeys, tumultuous relationships, supernatural forces, and brave heroes. We will explore how texts build on the past and imagine the future to create the characters and plots that have shaped our world. We will study a range of texts from different times and cultures, focusing specifically on those texts that travel outside their specific national or historical setting into a larger cultural context, to see how different works influence each other and how they work together to reflect and shape human history.
ENGLIT 267 Survey of British Literature I
Instructor: Professor Ann Campbell (see Ann Campbell’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
This course covers medieval, Renaissance, and eighteenth-century British literature. We read major texts from each period and interpret them in their historical and cultural context.
ENGLIT 275-001 Methods of Literary Studies
Instructor: Professor Tom Hillard (see Tom Hillard’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
Methods of Literary Studies is an introductory course designed to prepare students for the critical reading and writing skills required for upper-division literature classes. We will read and discuss examples from the major genres of literature – poetry, fiction, and drama – as we explore concepts and terminology that literary critics and scholars use to study and analyze them. Along the way, students will practice and refine their skills in writing about literature within the field of literary studies. Students will also get an initial introduction to more advanced theories of reading and literary analysis. In short, this course is designed to sharpen the skills of reading, analyzing, and writing about literature and to help students build a foundation for success in subsequent ENGLIT courses.
ENGLIT 275-002 Methods of Literary Studies
Instructor: Professor Matt Hansen (see Matt Hansen’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
This course is designed to prepare students for upper-division literature courses. It emphasizes literary critical thinking and writing by introducing principal types of literature, central questions in literary studies, ways of conducting literary research, and techniques for writing literary papers. We will be reading and analyzing a focused selection of literature using various critical approaches and strategies. You should be prepared – and manage your time – to carefully read 100+ pages of material—literature and writing about the texts we are studying—each week. Texts we will read: How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, Selected Poems, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Macbeth by William Shakespeare.