At McIntosh College, I taught an Introduction to Literature course. The objective of the course was to use literature to examine the concepts of critical thinking, theory, and research. The class examined prose, poetry, and plays from many periods, and explored prevalent themes for each era discussed. As the course progressed, I slowly introduced the ideas of literary theory and worked it in to the current readings. For example (as shown below), I would introduce Psychoanalysis as part of our discussion of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The following is my syllabus from this course and a sample of an in-class assignment I would give.
Sample Syllabus
Course: ENG 201: Introduction to Literature
Instructor: Mark D. Thomas
Course Objective: This course will introduce students to various genres of literature and encourage an appreciation of the impact that literature has on our lives. Rather than a specific focus on particular era or author, this course instead will sample literature through the ages and learn how different theoretical approaches shape our understanding of texts. Through critical reading, writing and in-depth discussion of literary elements, students will reflect upon recurring universal themes.
For the first half of the course, we will spend most of our time with fiction, moving onto poetry for the latter stages of the course, with plays scattered through the semester as part of our group projects. As we discuss our readings, we will also be introduced to some of the major schools of literary criticism, with the intent that by the end of the semester, we will understand some of the many different ways tests can be read and examined.
Textbook: An Introduction to Literature (16th Ed.) by Sylvan Barnet et al.
ISBN: 0205719929 ISBN-13: 978-0205719921
Other readings to be handed out as needed
Assignments:
Class participation: 20%
Critical Explanation: 10%
Group assignment: 20%
Critical Analysis Paper: 20%
Final Research Paper: 30%
Critical Explanation (Week 3): Part V of the book covers the basics of all of the major schools of criticism that can be used when analyzing literature. Throughout this course, we will be introduced to many of these schools and begin to apply them in our discussions and our assignments. By the end of week 3, you should read Part V and familiarize yourself with the terms and ideas (don’t worry if you don’t understand all of it). I then want you to pick one school and write-up a general explanation of what that school is concerned with and how it is applied. Outside research might be necessary to clear up any confusions, but it isn’t mandatory. 500 word minimum.
Critical Analysis Paper (Week 7): By the end of week 7, we will have a general overview of literary criticism, though we won’t have covered each school in class yet. For this assignment, you should do a close reading of ONE story from the fiction section of the book, directly applying one of the schools of criticism we have covered. The story can be something we’ve discussed in class, or it can be some other one that catches your eye. Either way, it should be from the book. Using whatever theory you choose, this close, analytical read should reveal some deeper truth or meaning about the text. Some outside research might be necessary, but isn’t mandatory. 1000 word minimum.
Final Research Paper (Week 16): Over the course of the semester, we will have covered a wide range of literature, both in terms of era and genre. We should also have a general understanding of the meaning of literary criticism. For this final essay, you should use theory and our readings to examine a topic that interests you. The scope of this paper can really be just about anything of your choosing, but at least one theoretical school should be applied, and at least one reading from our book should be at the heart of your argument. Outside research is mandatory for this assignment. 1500 word minimum.
Weekly Course Plan
Week 1: Introduction (Part I)
Week 2: Fiction (Part II) – Flannery O’Connor, Joyce Carol Oates
Week 3: Fiction (Part II) – Margaret Atwood, Raymond Carver
Week 4: Drama (Part IV) – Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
Week 5: Fiction (Part II) – Gothic Literature, Edgar Allen Poe
Week 6: Fiction (Part II) – Modernism, James Joyce, Ernest Hemmingway
Week 7: Fiction (Part II) – Amy Tan, John Updike
Week 8: Drama (Part IV) – A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Week 9: Fiction (Part II) – Genre Fiction, Shirley Jackson, Philip K. Dick
Week 10: Poetry (Part III) – Epic Poetry, selections from Gilgamesh and Beowulf
Week 11: Poetry (Part III) – Medieval elegies
Week 12: Drama (Part IV) – Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Week 13: Poetry (Part III) – Shakespearean Sonnets, Elizabethan poetry
Week 14: Poetry (Part III) – Emily Dickenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes
Week 15: Poetry (Part III) – Modern American Poetry
Week 16: Drama (Part IV) – The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Sample In-Class Assignment
Psychoanalysis Lesson Plan – Week 5
Objective for this lesson: Use a psychoanalytic approach on three short stories by Edgar Allan Poe to gain a better understanding of the author.
Readings: “Introduction—Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems” (handout)
“The Cask of Amontillado” pg. 509-512
“The Tell-Tale Heart” pg. 513-514
“The Black Cat” (handout)
Last week, while discussing Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, we were introduced to the school of criticism started by Freud known as psychoanalysis. This week, we are going to examine how psychoanalysis can be turned around to focus on an author instead of the characters in the stories. To this end, you have now read three short-stories by Edgar Allan Poe as well as the biographical introduction to a complete collection of his works. You might have noticed that in terms of theme and plot construct, these three stories are very similar.
For today’s class, we will be splitting up into groups of 4-5 people. Each group is to spend about 20-30 minutes discussing the similarities and differences in each of these three stories and comparing them to the events in Poe’s life and examine if there is any correlation. For example, you might look at the fact that entombment plays heavily in each of the stories and examine why that might be a construct Poe keeps revisiting.
At the end of the group time, each group will spend a few minutes presenting one aspect they found particularly interesting to the rest of the class, which will lead us into our discussions for the rest of the week.
Mark D. Thomas 