GNM4335

Theory and practice of literary criticism I: the theory

Walter Veit

4 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Corequisite: GNM4615

Objectives On successful completion of this course and GNM4615, students should have become aware of a number of classical and modern theories of literature and literary criticism, and should have learned to relate them to basic principles of understanding in the humanities and apply them to select texts of modern writing.

Synopsis The aim of the subject is to make students familiar with the history of and current theoretical and methodological developments in `Literaturwissenschaft' in German-speaking countries and its relationship to important trends in European and Anglo-American literary criticism. It examines the main cognitive theories and methodologies, focusing on hermeneutics, rhetoric, reception history, comparative and intercultural criticism, structuralism/poststructuralism and sociology of literature.

Assessment Two essays (3000 words): 100%

Recommended texts

Arnold H L and Sinemus V (eds) Grundz[cedilla]ge der Literatur- und Sprachwissenschaft vol. 1 Literaturwissenschaft dtv
Eagleton T Literary theory Blackwell
Goethe J W V Novelle Reclam
Hauff J and others Methodendiskussion, Arbeitsbuch zur Literaturwissenschaft 2 vols, Athenaum
Raabe P Einf[cedilla]hrung in die B[cedilla]cherkunde zur deutschen Literaturwissenschaft Metzler
Selden R A reader's guide to contemporary literary theory Harvester