Introduction to Literature

This is an introductory course in literature comprising critical analysis of significant works in short fiction, poetry, and drama. Particular emphasis will be placed on the various elements of prose and drama (plot, character, setting, theme, symbolism etc.), and both the structural and linguistic features of poetry. It will trace the development of the various modes of literature and will examine how the ideas encountered intersect with social, political, and aesthetic contexts. This course satisfies the General Education requirements for the competencies of critical thinking, reasoning, writing, and information management. This course intends to introduce students to the major forms of literature, namely fiction, poetry, and drama. They will develop the ability to interpret, evaluate, and critically analyze key texts and ideas from Europe and the United States. By examining representative works from a broad range of periods, students will encounter such key movements as the Renaissance, Romanticism, and Modernism, and explore the social and aesthetic themes that arise in light of their cultural and historical context.