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ENG813Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Literary Theory And Practical Criticism

This course introduces postgraduate students to Literary Theory and Practical Criticism. It covers varieties of criticism, the criticism of African literature, and the historical development of literary theory. Students will explore major critical approaches including Formalism, Sociological, Archetypal, Psychoanalysis, Feminism, and Marxism. The course emphasizes practical application of theories to selected texts, enhancing aesthetic appreciation and critical thinking skills. It is designed for students in English, Sociology, Linguistics, Mass Communication, Law, and Philosophy.

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120h
Study Time
13
Weeks
9h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Literary TheoryPractical CriticismCritical ApproachesAfrican LiteratureLiterary Analysis

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Literary Criticism

2

Literary Theory

3

Formalism

4

Structuralism

5

Post-Structuralism

6

Psychoanalysis

7

Marxism

8

Feminism

9

Postcolonialism

Total Topics9 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Literary Critic

Apply your skills in this growing field

Editor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Content Writer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Lecturer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Journalist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

PublishingEducationMediaJournalismCultural Analysis

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism

2h

Unit 1: Background to Literary Theory and Practical Criticism

2 study hours
  • •Read the unit introduction to understand the scope of literary theory and practical criticism.
  • •Define literary theory and practical criticism in your own words.
  • •Identify the key elements of literary theory and their historical development.
Week
2

Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism

2h

Unit 2: The Development of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism as a Discipline

2 study hours
  • •Define theory generally and literary theory specifically.
  • •Distinguish between literary theory and practical literary criticism.
  • •Identify the key components of literary theory and their relationships.
Week
3

Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism

2h

Unit 3: The Functions of Literary Theory and Practical Literary Criticism

2 study hours
  • •Explain the importance of studying literary theory and practical criticism.
  • •Discuss the functions of literary theory in understanding literary texts.
  • •Analyze the relationship between literary theory and practical criticism.
Week
4

Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism

2h

Unit 4: The Intersection Between the Literary Critic and the Writer

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the intersection between the literary critic and the writer.
  • •Analyze the role of the literary critic in interpreting literary works.
  • •Evaluate the impact of literary criticism on the literary marketplace.
Week
5

Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)

2h

Unit 1: Sociological Theory of Literature

2 study hours
  • •Explain the sociological theory of literature.
  • •Discuss the central tenets of sociological criticism.
  • •Analyze the relationship between literature and society.
Week
6

Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)

2h

Unit 2: Mimetic Theory of Art

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the postulations of the mimetic theory of literature.
  • •Critique the postulations of the mimetic theory of art.
  • •Compare and contrast Plato's and Aristotle's views on mimesis.
Week
7

Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)

2h

Unit 3: Formalist Theory

2 study hours
  • •Trace the development of formalist theory.
  • •Discuss the theoretical assumptions of formalism.
  • •Examine the criticisms against formalist theory and criticism.
Week
8

Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)

2h

Unit 4: New Criticism

2 study hours
  • •Trace the development of New Criticism.
  • •Discuss the theoretical postulations of New Criticism.
  • •Discuss the strengths and shortcomings of New Criticism.
Week
9

Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)

2h

Unit 5: Structuralist Theory

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the theoretical postulations of structuralism.
  • •Apply structuralist principles to the analysis of literary works.
  • •Analyze the relationship between language and literature in structuralism.
Week
10

Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)

2h

Unit 6: Post-Structuralism

2 study hours
  • •Define post-structuralism.
  • •Discuss the major postulations of post-structuralism.
  • •Compare and contrast structuralism and post-structuralism.
Week
11

Module 3: Theories of Literature (2)

4h

Unit 1: Archetypal Theory

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the influence of C. G. Jung on archetypal theory.
  • •Explain the importance of archetypes in literature.
  • •Identify archetypal literary devices and stylistic features.

Unit 6: Psychoanalytic Theory

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the influence of Sigmund Freud on psychoanalysis theory.
  • •Explain the key concepts of psychoanalytic theory.
  • •Apply psychoanalytical method in the analysis of works of literature.
Week
12

Module 3: Theories of Literature (2)

4h

Unit 2: Marxist Theory

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the theoretical postulations of Marxism.
  • •Explain its shortcomings as a theoretical construct.
  • •Explain Karl Marx's influence on Marxism.

Unit 3: Biographical Criticism

2 study hours
  • •Define biographical criticism.
  • •Discuss the postulations of biographical criticism.
  • •Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of biographical criticism.
Week
13

Module 4: Theories of Literature (3) and Practical Criticism

4h

Unit 2: Reader-Response Theory

2 study hours
  • •Explain the concept of reader-response theory.
  • •Trace the origin of reader-response theory.
  • •Highlight some of the shortcomings of reader-response theory.

Unit 3: Postcolonial Theory

2 study hours
  • •Define Postcolonialism.
  • •Outline the theoretical tenets of Postcolonialism.
  • •List and discuss the leading theorists of Postcolonialism.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their feedback to identify areas of weakness.

2

Create concept maps linking key theories and their proponents (e.g., Saussure and Structuralism).

3

Practice applying different critical lenses (Feminist, Marxist) to sample texts to understand their practical application.

4

Focus on understanding the historical context and key figures associated with each literary theory.

5

Prepare concise summaries of each theory's core tenets and criticisms to aid recall during the exam.

6

Develop a comparative chart outlining the similarities and differences between major critical approaches (e.g., Formalism vs. Structuralism).

7

Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the course outline.

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