During the first semester students are introduced to critical theory and develop a knowledge base of various critical approaches that prepare them to respond reflectively and analytically to a broad range of literary texts. The primary theories covered include: New Criticism, Feminism, Reader’s Response, Marxism, Deconstructionism, and Poststructuralism. The course readings reflect the theme of “Writing as Resistance” and may include writings by Kate Chopin, Mary Shelley, Judith Fetterley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Faulkner, Charlotte Bronte and Foucault.

During the second semester students continue their investigation of critical theory and are introduced to aspects of Archetypal Criticism, Psychoanalysis, Existentialism, Culturalism/Historicism, and Post-colonialism. The thematic focus of “Writing as Revolution,” may include the works of Toni Morrison, Ntozake Shange, Valerie Solanas, Andre Breton, and Kurt Vonnegut.

Class time is spent discussing and exploring the historical context within which various theories were founded and developing application techniques to various works of literature. Students gain the ability to identify the characteristics, structures, and conventions attributed to different forms of literature, and develop the ability to support, modify, and refute positions with documented information from multiple authoritative sources through creative writing, in-depth analytical essays, semester and year-long projects.