Literary Theory

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

• to acquaint students with the basic concepts of contemporary literary theory,
• to connect basic notions of contemporary literary theory with methodological contexts,
• to acquire the ability to critically analyse various uses of theoretical literary concepts,
• to acquire the ability to use these concepts in the interpretation of texts.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

none

Syllabus

Course learning content:

The determinants of a literary text (in the context of selected methodologies)

The place of analysis and interpretation in literary studies

Literary text as a structure, sign, message

Issues of reception of a literary text

Intertextuality as a category in literary studies

Literary genre, literary convention

Literary tradition and the ways of understanding it

Theories of 20th and 21st century literature (e.g., poststructuralism, deconstruction, neopragmatism, feminism, gender, queer, new historicism, cultural studies, postcolonialism)

Reading list

• Jonathan Culler, Literary theory: a very short introduction, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Terry Eagleton, Literary theory: an introduction, Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota Press, 2006.
• Richard Harland, Literary theory from Plato to Barthes: an introductory history, Basingstoke, New York: Palgrave, 1999.
• Literary theory and criticism: an Oxford guide, edited by Patricia Waugh, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.
• Michael Ryan, Literary theory: a practical introduction, Blackwell 2007.