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Literature Courses

LIT 210 (3-0-3)

Children’s Literature

This course examines literature written for children from preschool through high school. It explores a variety of genres and forms and traces the historical development of literature for children and adolescents. The course emphasizes the elements of literature as they apply to this genre, and focuses on social and cultural themes in literature for children and young adults. Critical approaches to literature will be discussed and applied to texts. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 211 (3-0-3)

Native American Literature

This course introduces students to the large and diverse array of literature produced by Native Americans in North America, from pre-contact oral literature to contemporary writings in English. Genres studied include any or all of the following: myths; chants, ceremonies, and rituals; songs; speeches; personal narratives; essays; poems; short stories and novels. The course concentrates on post-contact literature, especially on the issues faces by men and women of native descent in the United States. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 214 (3-0-3)

African American Literature

This course introduces students to the large and diverse array of literature produced by Africans and African Americans in North America, from slavery to the modern period. Genres studied include fiction (novels and short stories), drama, poetry and song, and non-fiction prose. The course emphasizes the ways in which African and African American authors have articulated and responded to issues of identity and empowerment within the Euro-American context. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 215 (3-0-3)

Introduction to Poetry

This course is an introduction to poetic genres, forms, and modes. It fosters appreciation for and critical analysis of poetry and acquaints students with the historical, intellectual, and cultural contexts of that poetry. This course also introduces students to poetics, prosody, and poetry criticism. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 216 (3-0-3)

Mythology

This course introduces students to selected major myths, and to representative or noteworthy minor myths, which various cultures have created in their efforts to come to terms with perceived reality. The course also explores the belief systems which underlie those myths. Finally, the course enables students to recognize the continued value and relevance of myth and myth making. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 220 (3-0-3)

Women’s Literature

This course introduces students to the large and diverse array of literature produced by women from different eras, cultures, and nations. Genres studied include any or all of the following: fiction (novels and short stories), drama, poetry, and non-fiction prose. The course emphasizes the ways in which women authors have articulated and responded to gender-related issues within largely patriarchal societies. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 221 (3-0-3)

Hispanic Literature

This course introduces students to the literary works of major Hispanic authors of the Americas. The course explores the ways in which Hispanic authors have responded to issues, such as: identity, colonization, culture, political and economic policies and immigration. Knowledge of the Spanish language is not required. PR/CR: ENG 123

LIT 223 (3-0-3)

The Detective in Fiction and Film

In this course students study the history and development of detective fiction. They read and analyze works of detective fiction from a variety of historical periods and view and analyze some of the genre’s pivotal films. Discussions focus upon the elements of fiction as they apply to this genre, the historical, societal, and ethical aspects of detective fiction, and the elements of film noir. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 225 (3-0-3)

Contemporary World Fiction

This course explores prose fiction from around the world written since the mid-twentieth century by authors of various nationalities, ethnicities, and races. It covers the aesthetic and cultural dimensions of the individual works in the context of relevant literary and cultural cross-currents. 
PR: ENG 123

LIT 231 (3-0-3)

Drama Classics to 1870

This course surveys works of world dramatic literature from the ancient Greeks to the nineteenth century. It examines characteristic values and styles of the Classical, Medieval, Early Modern, Baroque, and Romantic periods in their tragic, comic, and mixed modes. 
PR: ENG 124

LIT 232 (3-0-3)

Introduction to Dramatic Literature

This course examines dramatic literature as a literary form. It analyzes the formal elements of plays, such as plot construction, dialogue, character, staging, and setting; it also focuses on the plays’ social, cultural, and historical contexts. By focusing on representative plays by Western playwrights from the classical Greek period through the contemporary era, this course emphasizes diversity of form and provides students with awareness of the culturally and ethnically diverse worlds these plays represent.
PR: ENG 124

LIT 233 (3-0-3)

Drama Classics: Modern and Contemporary

This course surveys major schools of dramatic literature from the latter 19th to the 21st century, e.g. Realism, Naturalism, Expressionism, Symbolism, Epic Theater, Surrealism, Absurdism, Post- Modernism. It places primary emphasis on the works, theories, and influences of major European and American dramatists. 
PR: ENG 124

LIT 252 (3-0-3)

British Literature Before 1800

This course surveys works of British literature from its origins in pre-Norman England through the eighteenth century. It fosters students’ appreciation for literature and their acquaintance with texts written in English during the years of this survey; introduces them to the historical, intellectual, and cultural contexts of these texts; and hones their critical thinking skills in the analysis of literature. 
PR: ENG 124 or HON 124
Fall only

LIT 254 (3-0-3)

British Literature Since 1800

This course surveys works of British literature from the eighteenth-century to the present. It fosters students’ appreciation for literature and their acquaintance with texts written in English during the years of this survey; introduces them to the historical, intellectual, and cultural contexts of these texts; and hones their critical thinking skills in the analysis of literature. 
PR: ENG 124 or HON 124
Spring only

LIT 256 (3-0-3)

American Literature to 1865

This course surveys writing in America from pre-colonial times through 1865, focusing on how the historical growth of the country contributed to the emergence of a distinctly American literature. The course will cover key literary figures and movements within the diverse range of American literary history, including those historically under- represented. 
PR: ENG 124
Fall only

LIT 258 (3-0-3)

American Literature Since 1850

This course surveys American Literature from 1865 through the present, focusing on the growing diversity in authorship and formal experimentation during this period. Literature by key literary figures, representative of major movements, will be examined. The course will also introduce more experimental works and emerging authors. 
PR: ENG 124
Spring only

LIT 260 (3-0-3)

The American Short Story

This course focuses on the American short story as a literary form. It emphasizes the diversity of the form by looking at a variety of early, modern, and contemporary short stories from a variety of regions, cultures, and ethnic groups. It analyzes the formal elements of short fiction and also focuses on its social, cultural, and historical contexts.

LIT 266 (3-0-3)

Science Fiction and Fantasy

This course provides an introductory exploration of the literary genre of science fiction. It identifies the thematic and formal characteristics of the genre, and traces its development from and relationship to other forms of literature and the history of science. 
PR: ENG 123 and either ENG 124 or HON 124

LIT 270 (3-0-3)

The Bible as Literature

This course introduces students to the Old and New Testaments as literary artifacts. It focuses on literary form and technique. The course examines such literary genres, forms, and techniques as poetry, prophecy, epistolary writing, epic, genealogy, parable, character and characterization, theme, imagery, and symbolism. In addition, the course surveys the historical construction of the Bible and considers different versions of some biblical texts. Last, it examines the Bible’s influences on later literary and artistic works. 
PR: ENG 124 or HON 124

LIT 275 (3-0-3)

Topics in Literature

This course extends and refines skills of literary analysis and interpretation. It emphasizes study within a specific literary tradition or oeuvre, but the thematic focus of the course varies. 
PR: ENG 124