ENGLIT 217-4001 Mythology
- Instructor: Ruth Salter, MFA (see Ruth Salter’s faculty profile)
- Mode: Online
Myths are powerful, enduring narratives that provide us with essential tools for understanding human culture–including values, rituals, and artistic expression–as well as guidance for living a full and satisfying life. We frequently encounter mythological references in novels, movies, advertisements, video games, etc.; this course will deepen your appreciation for mythology by linking literary analysis of myths to multiple fields of human inquiry, including history, archaeology, psychology, education, the visual arts, and creative writing. At its heart, ENGLIT 217 surveys the various ways global cultures have approached the essential questions of human experience: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What happens after we die? Learning more about the diverse ways people have responded to these questions will invite you to reflect upon the origins of your own values and beliefs. Join us in this fully online course as we explore myths from around the world and meet gods, goddesses, heroes, and tricksters who will help us understand the power of sacred stories in ancient civilizations, our complex contemporary society, and in our own lives.
ENGLIT 261: Literary History I
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Black (see Jennifer Black’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
Travel around the world and across time as we explore the history of literature from its earliest beginnings through the early modern period. We will read stories of desperate quests, perilous journeys, tumultuous relationships, supernatural forces, and brave heroes. We will explore how texts build on the past and imagine the future to create the characters and plots that have shaped our world. We will study a range of texts from different times and cultures, focusing specifically on those texts that travel outside their specific national or historical setting into a larger cultural context, to see how different works influence each other and how they work together to reflect and shape human history.
ENGLIT 267 Survey of British Literature I
Instructor: Professor Ann Campbell (see Ann Campbell’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
This course covers medieval, Renaissance, and eighteenth-century British literature. We read major texts from each period and interpret them in their historical and cultural context.
ENGLIT 275–001 Methods of Literary Studies
Instructor: Professor Tom Hillard (see Tom Hillard’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
Methods of Literary Studies is an introductory course designed to prepare students for the critical reading and writing skills required for upper-division literature classes. We will read and discuss examples from the major genres of literature – poetry, fiction, and drama – as we explore concepts and terminology that literary critics and scholars use to study and analyze them. Along the way, students will practice and refine their skills in writing about literature within the field of literary studies. Students will also get an initial introduction to more advanced theories of reading and literary analysis. In short, this course is designed to sharpen the skills of reading, analyzing, and writing about literature and to help students build a foundation for success in subsequent ENGLIT courses.
ENGLIT 275—002 Methods of Literary Studies
Instructor: Professor Tara Penry (see Tara Penry’s faculty profile)
Mode: In person
Cultivate the skills of reading and writing for upper-division literature classes. Discuss poems, stories, and plays as art objects, vessels of ideas, and doorways to enchantment. Dr. Penry’s Tuesday/Thursday section of this course meets in person. It aims to provide a relatively low-tech experience to offset the online demands of modern student life. Any student who has completed ENGL 102 Writing & Rhetoric II is welcome to register. This course is an excellent choice for anyone curious about the English Literature major or just wanting to spend more time with good books.
ENGLIT 277 Survey of American Literature II
- Instructor: Professor Jeff Westover (see Jeff Westover’s faculty profile)
- Mode: In person
Survey of selected texts from the breadth of traditions in early American literature, with its diversity of texts from the period’s major literary movements. Emphasizing critical reading and written analysis, the course traces the continued development of American literary thought and culture from the colonial era to the Civil War.