Literary Theory And Practical Criticism
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 182 pages
- 23 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ENG813, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ENG813 · UNIT 2: THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERARY THEORY AND PRACTICAL CRITICSM AS A DISCIPLINE
This unit provides a general definition of theory and a specific definition of literary theory. It also attempts a distinction between literary theory, literary history and practical literary criticism.
What you should be able to do
- Define and explain key concepts in literary theory and practical criticism.
- Apply various critical approaches to analyze literary texts.
- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different literary theories.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of literary criticism.
- Compare and contrast different critical perspectives on literature.
- Critically assess the role of culture and ideology in literary interpretation.
What it prepares you for
- Literary Critic
- Editor
- Content Writer
- Lecturer
- Journalist
- Publishing
- Education
- Media
- Journalism
- Cultural Analysis
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 6: Post-Structuralism
Post-structuralism challenges traditional notions of meaning and interpretation, requiring a shift in perspective.
- Module 3: Theories of Literature (2)
Unit 6: Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychoanalytic theory involves complex psychological concepts and their application to literary analysis.
- Module 4: Theories of Literature (3) and Practical Criticism
Unit 4: Deconstruction Theory
Deconstruction requires understanding of complex philosophical concepts and their application to literary texts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism
Unit 1: Background to Literary Theory and Practical Criticism · 2 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 2Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism
Unit 2: The Development of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism as a Discipline · 2 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 3Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism
Unit 3: The Functions of Literary Theory and Practical Literary Criticism · 2 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 4Module 1: An Overview of Literary Theory and Practical Criticism
Unit 4: The Intersection Between the Literary Critic and the Writer · 2 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 5Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 1: Sociological Theory of Literature · 2 hours
Explain the sociological theory of literature.. Discuss the central tenets of sociological criticism.. Analyze the relationship between literature and society..
- Week 6Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 2: Mimetic Theory of Art · 2 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 7Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 3: Formalist Theory · 2 hours
Trace the development of formalist theory.. Discuss the theoretical assumptions of formalism.. Examine the criticisms against formalist theory and criticism..
- Week 8Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 4: New Criticism · 2 hours
Trace the development of New Criticism.. Discuss the theoretical postulations of New Criticism.. Discuss the strengths and shortcomings of New Criticism..
- Week 9Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 5: Structuralist Theory · 2 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 10Module 2: Theories of Literature (1)
Unit 6: Post-Structuralism · 2 hours
Define post-structuralism.. Discuss the major postulations of post-structuralism.. Compare and contrast structuralism and post-structuralism..
- Week 11Module 3: Theories of Literature (2)
Unit 1: Archetypal Theory · 2 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 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 12Module 3: Theories of Literature (2)
Unit 2: Marxist Theory · 2 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 hours
Define biographical criticism.. Discuss the postulations of biographical criticism.. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of biographical criticism..
- Week 13Module 4: Theories of Literature (3) and Practical Criticism
Unit 2: Reader-Response Theory · 2 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 hours
Define Postcolonialism.. Outline the theoretical tenets of Postcolonialism.. List and discuss the leading theorists of Postcolonialism..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their feedback to identify areas of weakness.
- Create concept maps linking key theories and their proponents (e.g., Saussure and Structuralism).
- Practice applying different critical lenses (Feminist, Marxist) to sample texts to understand their practical application.
- Focus on understanding the historical context and key figures associated with each literary theory.
- Prepare concise summaries of each theory's core tenets and criticisms to aid recall during the exam.
- Develop a comparative chart outlining the similarities and differences between major critical approaches (e.g., Formalism vs. Structuralism).
- Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the course outline.
Questions students ask about this course
What is ENG813 about?
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.
How many units does ENG813 have?
ENG813, Literary Theory And Practical Criticism, has 23 units across 4 modules, over 182 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ENG813?
ENG813 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is ENG813 hard?
ENG813 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does ENG813 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 23 units.
How is ENG813 assessed?
ENG813 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with ENG813?
Literary Critic, Editor, Content Writer, Lecturer and Journalist.