Course Rationales - Literary Criticism (From Plato to T.S. Eliot) - One Semester Syllabus

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

Course Rationales for an M.A. English Literature program (2025-2026), outlining a one-semester course on literary criticism from antiquity to the early 20th century. The document specifies learning outcomes focused on tracing the historical development of critical theory, analyzing key critical texts in philosophical and aesthetic contexts, evaluating critics’ views on literature, representation, art, morality, and interpretation, and comparing critical frameworks for application. It presents class format, weekly lecture/seminar structure, unit-by-unit syllabus outline, assessment weights, and suggested core readings.

LanguageEnglish

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Pages4

Reading Time10 min

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Course Rationales

Class Format

Weekly Plan/Syllabus Outline

Assessment

Suggested Core Texts

Tikrit University College of Education for HumanitiesEnglish Department M.A.English Literature(2025-2026) Literary Criticism:From Plato to T.S.EliotProf.Dr.Lamiaa Ahmed Rasheed # Course Rationales By the end of this course,students will be able to: ·Trace the historical development of literary theory and criticism from antiquity to theearly 20th century. ·Analyze key critical texts and understand their philosophical and aesthetic contexts. ·Evaluate how different critics view literature,representation,art,morality,andinterpretation. ·Compare and contrast critical frameworks and apply them in literary analysis. Course Duration:One Semester(14-15 weeks) # Class Format: -1 weekly lecture (3 credit hours) - 1 seminar/discussion session -Weekly presentations # Weekly Plan/Syllabus Outline: Unit I:Classical Foundations (Weeks 1-3) Week 1:Introduction to Literary Criticism((Lois Tyson's Critical Theory TodaylJonathan Cullers“What is theory”from Literary Theory:A Very Short Introduction\M. H.Abrams'The Mirror and the Lamp) ·What is criticism?Literary Criticism and Literary Theory ·Functions and goals of criticism ·Types and approaches of Literary Criticism -The collaborative relationship betweencontent and form ·Literature and theory # Assessment: | Component | Weight | | --- | --- | | Class Participation&Seminar Engagement | | | | 5% | | Response Papers and Presentation | 10% | | Midterm exam | 15% | | | | | Final exam | 70% | # Suggested Core Texts: -Culler,Jonathan.(2011).Literary Theory:A very Short Introduction.-I.A.Richards.(1934).Principles of Literary Criticism. -Habib,M.A.R.(2005)A History of Literary Criticism:From Plato to the Present -Mathew Arnold.Essays on Criticism -Celena Kusch.(2016).Literary Analysis :The Basics -Anne H.Stevens.(2015).Literary Theory and Criticism -Enright &Chickera(eds.),English Critical Texts -Richter,David H.,The Critical Tradition -Wimsatt &Brooks,Literary Criticism:A Short History Week 2-3:Classical Greek Criticism(M.A.R.Habib's Literary Criticism from Plato tothe Present\Aristotle's Poetics) -Greek Mythology and Jung's Archetypal Criticism:A Practical Reading of The Scarlet Letter -Plato's Theory of Form:A Practical Reading of Metaphysical Poetry -Plato's Theory of Inspiration:A Practical Reading of D.H.Lawrence's Sons and Lovers -Aristotle's Theory of Art:A Practical Reading of E.M.Forster's "The Machine Stops"(Life as it isl dystopia)and H.G.Wells "A Modern Utopia"(life as it out to bel utopia) -Aristotle's Comparative Approach:Simple Plot Vs.Complex Plot:(Anti)Aristotelian PracticalReading of Romeo and Juliet and Waiting for Godot -Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle:A Practical Reading of War Poetry -Aristotle's Theory of Characters:Characterization\Types of Characters\Practical Readings ofSelected Works -Aristotle's Poetics -Tragedy,catharsis,mimesis,unity:A Practical Reading of Types of Narration # Unit II:Roman and Medieval Criticism (Weeks 4-5) Week 4:Horace and Longinus ·Horace:Ars Poetica-didacticism and decorum ·Longinus:On the Sublime-elevation,passion,sublimity # Week 5:Medieval Criticism ·Augustine:allegorical reading ·Dante(selections from The Letter to Can Grande) ·Scholasticism and scriptural interpretation # Unit III:Renaissance and Neoclassical Criticism(Weeks 6-7) Week 6:Renaissance Humanism ·Sir Philip Sidney:Defence of Poesy ·Between Classical Influence and Romantic Features in“An Apology for poetry” # Week 7-8:Neoclassicism ·John Dryden:An Essay of Dramatic Poesy ·John Dryden:"Discourse on Satire and Epic Poetry":A Practical Reading of Satire inPope's "The Rape of the Lock". ·Alexander Pope:An Essay on Criticism ·-Samuel Johnson's Anti Aristotelian Theory of "Three Unities.” ·-Edmund Burke's Theory of Sublime:A Practical Reading of Burhan Shawi's BaghdadMortuary # Unit IV:Enlightenment and Romantic Criticism(Weeks 9-11) Week 9:The Enli

FAQs

What learning outcomes does the course emphasize?

Students learn to trace the historical development of literary theory and criticism, analyze key critical texts, evaluate how critics view literature and interpretation, and compare frameworks to apply them in literary analysis.

How is the course structured in terms of class format?

The course includes one weekly lecture (3 credit hours) and a seminar/discussion session, with weekly presentations.

What are the assessment components and their weights?

Class participation and seminar engagement is 5%, response papers and presentation are 10%, the midterm exam is 15%, and the final exam is 70%.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel