EN2001 3.

0 A Literary Theory I
Fall 2019
Lecture: Tuesdays 12:30-2:20 Ross South 137
Tutorial 1: Tuesdays 2:30-3:20 RS 104
Tutorial 2: Tuesdays 3:30-4:20 CB 122
Tutorial 3: Tuesdays 2:30-3:20 HNE B10

Teaching Team:
Course Director: Megan Hillman TA: MLA Chernoff
Office: 708 Atkinson* Office: 516 Atkinson
Office Hours: Tuesday 11-12 or by appointment Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:30-12:20
Email: mhillman@yorku.ca Email: mlachern@yorku.ca
*this office is not wheelchair accessible

Read at an Awards Dinner, May 1996

Beware when you honor an artist.

You are praising danger,
You are holding out your hand
To the dead and the unborn.
You are counting on what cannot be counted.

The poet's measures serve anarchic joy.

The story-teller tells one story: freedom.

Above all beware of honoring women artists.

For the housewife will fill the house with lions
And in with the grandmother
Come bears, wild horses, great horned owls, coyotes.
Ursula K. LeGuin

This course introduces students to the study of literary theory. We will consider if artists should be
praised or silenced. Is art always about danger? And what is art, anyway? And who is an artist? These
are the questions that will guide us as we make our way through readings from Plato to the Romantics.
We shall engage with ideas about the value of art, the role of the artist and the role of the reader.
The goals of the course are to:
1) develop critical reading skills
2) develop essay writing skills
3) learn how to use art to question theory and how to use theory to question art

Students are expected to attend lecture and tutorial weekly

Required Texts:
Leitch, Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism 3rd Edition (if you can find a cheap 1 st or 2nd edition
get that! The page numbers will be different and you might need to find one or two readings elsewhere)
All poetry is available on the moodle website for this course
Course Requirements:

500 word response papers (10% each x3 = 30%) Due the day of that reading
Over the course of the term you will need to write 3 response papers. Each response paper should
consider ONE of the assigned theoretical readings. We are looking for YOUR response to the reading,
which means we are looking to see if you understand the position or claim being put forward by the
theorist, and we expect you to discuss what you think about that position or claim. Each response paper
must cover a different theoretical approach. Response papers should be typed, double spaced and use
MLA citations. Try to avoid secondary sources (it is your response that matters) but, if you do use
them, be sure to cite them. Response papers are due the day of that particular reading (for example,
if you write your response paper on Aristotle it must be submitted by Tuesday Sept 24).

Peer-Editing of Major Essay (5%) in tutorial November 12

Bring a draft of your major essay to tutorial and be prepared to discuss in small groups what you are
arguing and how you are supporting your argument.

2000-2500 word Major Essay (30%) Due November 19

Pick one creative text from the course. Pick two theorists from two different time periods (i.e. one from
the Medieval Period and one from the Romantic Period). Use the two different theories they put
forward to analyze the creative text. Questions you might consider to help guide your thinking: is the
poem art according to the theorists? Does the poem represent a danger to society according to the
theorists? Does the theory offered by one theorist lead to a particular reading of the text and, if so, is
that reading altered by bringing in the other theorist? The point of the essay is to show your
understanding of the theorists. We will provide a more detailed list of questions but this should get you
started in your thinking.

Participation (15%) All Term

Participation means being prepared to engage with the ideas being put forward, to share opinions and to
raise questions. You are expected to come to class with the readings done and with some thoughts to
share about what you have read. Attendance alone is not counted towards your participation grade.

Exam (20%)
The exam will be held during the fall exam period (December 5-20)

A Word on Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Simply put, plagiarism is the act of using someone else's
work as your own, in whole or in part. Plagiarism can include copying, reproducing or paraphrasing
material, from any source, without acknowledgment. To avoid a charge of plagiarism remember to
always cite your sources, use quotation marks properly and write your own original work. The
minimum penalty for students found guilty of plagiarism will be a mark of 0 on the assignment. You
should familiarize yourself with York's policy on plagiarism, found at: http://secretariat-
policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/academic-honesty-senate-policy-on/
 Course Schedule:
(all page references are to The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism 3rd edition)

Tuesday September 10
Introduction to the course: What is literary theory and why do we need it?

The Classical Period

Creative Texts: Whitman, “Song of Myself 20 and 21”, Smart, “Jubilate Agno Section B”, Pinsky,
“Shirt”, Ginsberg, “Howl” (on moodle)

Tuesday September 17
Plato, The Republic 58-89

September 17: last day to add without permission

Tuesday September 24
Aristotle, Poetics 99-127

Tuesday October 1
Horace, The Art of Poetry 133-144; Longinus, On Sublimity 146-164
You need to have handed in your first response paper by today
October 1: last day to add with permission

The Medieval Period

Creative Texts: Anon, “Pangur Ban”, Walcott, “Love after Love”, Mullen, “Any Lit”, Behn, “On Her
Loving Two Equally”, Silko, “Ceremony” (on moodle)

Tuesday October 8
Augustine, On Christian Teaching 166-177; Aquinas, Summa Theologica 191-194;

Tuesday October 15 no class: Reading Week (October 12-18)

Tuesday October 22
Dante (selections) 196-200; Boccaccio, Genealogy of the Gentile Gods 202-209; De Pizan (selections)
211-224

The Renaissance Period to the Neo-Classical Period

Creative Texts: Milton, “How Soon Hath Time”, Chudleigh, “To the Ladies”, Donne, “The Flea”,
Shakespeare, “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?”, Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”, Herrick,
“Delight in Disorder”, Erdrich, “Family Reunion”, Angelou, “Our Grandmothers” (on moodle)

Tuesday October 29
Sidney, The Defence of Poesy 262-291; Dryden, “Essay of Dramatic Poesy” on moodle
Tuesday November 5
Behn (selections) 329-337; Pope, “An Essay on Criticism” 370-383; Johnson, “On Fiction” 387-390
and “Preface to Shakespeare” 392-405
You need to have handed in your second response paper by today
November 8: Last day to drop without receiving a grade

The Enlightenment Period

Tuesday November 12
Burke, “Inquiry into the Sublime and the Beautiful;” 467-473; Kant, Critique of Judgment 429-463
Peer Editing in Tutorial today

The Romantic Period

Creative Texts: Keats, “La Belle Dame sans Merci”, Shelley, “Sonnet: England in 1819”, Poe, “The
Raven”, Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”, Coleridge, “Kubla Khan”, Hughes, “The
Negro Speaks of Rivers” (on moodle)

Tuesday November 19
Wordsworth, “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” 566-5586; Coleridge, Biographia Literaria 590-597
Major Essay Due

Tuesday November 26
Shelley, “A Defence of Poetry” 601-619; Emerson, “The Poet” 625-640
You need to have handed in your third response paper by today

Tuesday December 3
Course Review and Exam Preparation

Reading Questions
As you read each selection, try to answer the following.

1. What does the theorist think is the purpose of art? Is it to teach? If so, teach what? Is it to
entertain?

2. What kinds of literary examples does the theorist use to make their point: Do they refer to
Greek/Roman classics? Do they refer to British, French, or Italian writers? Do they refer to any
women? How do they treat their examples?

3. How would you characterize their writing style: Is it ornate and full of literary tropes such as
metaphors, allusions, anaphora? Is it simple and direct? How might their style reinforce (or
contradict) their claims?

4. Does the theorist create a set of rules? If so, what are they? Are they rules for writing poetry or
are they rules for judging poetry? Is there a difference?

5. Try to summarize each article in 2-3 sentences. What are the main points/claims?
Campus Resources

Writing Department S329 Ross. 416-736-5134

http://writing-centre.writ.laps.yorku.ca/ offers individual tutoring in all aspects of the essay writing
process as well as workshops on a variety of writing skills and problem-solving strategies. Tutors can
be hard to come by once the term is fully underway so go early.

Learning Skills Program S172 Ross. 416-736-5144.

http://lss.info.yorku.ca/workshops/ offers workshops, online assistance and support regarding all
aspects of student life.

Learning Commons – 2nd floor Scott Library.

http://learningcommons.yorku.ca/workshops/ offers a variety of skills-based workshops including
writing instruction, citation help, assistance with research etc.

The Counselling and Development Centre N110 Bennett Centre. 416-736-5297

http://www.yorku.ca/cds/ offers personal and group counselling. An appointment is needed for personal
counselling but anyone facing immediate crisis will be accommodated straight away. This is a
confidential service and is free of charge.

York Federation of Students 336 Student Centre. 416-736-2100 ext 58066

www.yfs.ca This is your union and offers a wide range of services.

Essay Submission and Late Policies

Your TA will explain whether your response papers and major paper are to be submitted through
moodle or in hard copy (or both). They will also explain their late policies.

Office Hours
Office hours function as a drop in space where you can simply show up and ask questions, get feedback
on your assignments, and further discuss the ideas of the course. Help is offered on a first-come, first-
served basis.

Special Note:
There are a number of workshops and resources available at York which have been designed to help
support your success at university. If you attend 5 workshops (and have a Passport to Student Success
signed for each event you attend), submit a copy of this with your final essay and we will add 5 marks
to your essay grade. More information about the program can be found here:

http://lss.info.yorku.ca/files/2013/06/brochure-passport-to-success-2017-v8.pdf