Academic Catalogs

ENGL A187: Introduction to Literary Theory

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/02/2020
Top Code 150300 - Comparative Literature
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)
  • OC Humanities - AA (OC1)
Associate Science Local General Education (GE)
  • OCC Humanities - AS (OSC2)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C2 Humanities (C2)

Course Description

Introduction to literary theory and interpretation with a focus on genre, textual analysis, and application of theoretical principles. Examines the influence of philosophy and history on perceptions of literature and will investigate relevant topics such as art, sexuality, economics, culture, power, and language. Some authors may include Barthes, Freud, Marx, Derrida, and Foucault. Enrollment Limitation: ENGL A187H; students who complete ENGL A187 may not enroll in or receive credit for ENGL A187H. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Write analytical arguments utilizing literary theoretical methods to interpret works of literature.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Explain no fewer than four theoretical approaches to literary analysis as applied to a t least two works of literature or film.
  • 2. Identify and examine the philosophical, cultural, historical, and individual elements addressed in literary theory.
  • 3. Read closely and apply literary methodologies in order to appreciate and interpret literature.
  • 4. Examine the influence of other disciplines such as philosophy, history, psychology, and sociology on literary interpretation.
  • 5. Recognize how individual methodologies influence the production of literature and the perception of art.
  • 6. Write about literary theory and its application to literature.
  • 7. Customize and adapt a theoretical approach and apply to a piece of literature.
  • 8. Evaluate the depth of understanding obtained by applying various forms of literary theory to works of literature.

Lecture Content

Introduction to literary theory and criticism. Clarify the difference between “theory,” “methodology,” “criticism,” and “aesthetics.” Identify the aesthetic and moral questions literary theory seeks to understand. Evaluate the relevance of literary theory to the study of Literature. Identify types of criticism and schools of theoretical thought. Trace the evolution of literary theory from its early roots in Greek philosophy to post-modern/post-Fordist methodologies. Recognize the defining traits of at least four methods of literary theory:   Structuralism, Post- Structuralism, Language theory, New Criticism, formalist, Phenomenology, Reader Response, Deconstruction, psychoanalytic, Feminist, Marxist, Queer Studies, New Historicism, Cultural Studies, and post-colonial.   Discuss the historical, cultural, philosophical and aesthetic influences of at least four major theories. Discuss the politics of literary theory and its relevance to shaping the literary canon.    Apply theoretical principles to literary works. Define key terms and motivating principles of significant theoretical approaches. Analyze a work of literature employing a theoretical methodology. Discuss the implications of applying a particular theory to a literary work: what gets overlooked, what becomes important, what types of literary tropes does it privilege, how does it change the reading of the work, etc.   Compare the interpretations rendered by two literary theories in order to evaluate the merits of both methodologies.

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture and application of ideas, discussion, instructor feedback on written papers and discussion, peer feedback.

Reading Assignments

Reading:  Approximately 2-4 hours per week/ 32-54 per semester--students are expected to spend on course reading, outside of class--readings include but are not limited to  texts by major literary critics and theorists, but selected fiction--novels, short stories, poetry, drama and film--for application and praxis of literary theory.

Writing Assignments

Writing Assignments  Approximately 2-4 hours per week/4 32-54 hours per semester on out of class assignments.  Most writing for this class in performed outside of class with the exceptions of exams, midterms and short reading responses.   Write a minimum of 3000 words (15 pages, 12 pt. double spaced typed) about and applying literary analysis (a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must  be in the form of  analytical  essays,  (b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of the literary theories covered and demonstrate how to apply to literature.

Out-of-class Assignments

. Out-of-Class Assignments:  Approximately 2-4 hours per week/4 32-54 hours per semester on out of class assignments. As this course is lecture/discussion, nearly all the writing for the class is produced outside of class and is described below.  Writing for this class includes, but is not limited to Essays, summaries, repsonses, research papers using secondary sources, take-home exams.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Essays, Exams, Class Discussion, oral presentations.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Write a minimum of 3000 words (15 pages, 12 pt, double-spaced typed) employing literary theory: a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must be in the form of analytical essays, b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, creative modeling of the literature, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of literary theory.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Barthes, Roland. The Pleasure of the Text, ed. New York: Harper Collins, 2000 Rationale: - 2. Required Derrida, Jacques. Of Grammatology, ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998 Rationale: - 3. Required Eagelton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction, ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 1996 Rationale: - 4. Required Eagelton, Mary. Feminist Literary Theory: A Reader, ed. Oxford: Blackwell,, 1996 Rationale: - 5. Required Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison, ed. New York: Vintage Books, 1995 Rationale: - 6. Required Freud, Sigmund. Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, ed. New York: Basic Books, 2000 Rationale: - 7. Required Leitch, Vincent B. ed. . The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001 Rationale: -