Literary Theory and Criticism

The course aims at introducing students to the fundamental topics of literary theory and to the methodological issues concerning the study of literature, also by discussing different perspectives and concepts for analyzing and interpreting texts. Students will develop the ability to analyze, reason on and argue about the theoretical issues presented and a more sophisticated understanding of the premises, methods, and aims of literary criticism.

Students will address the fundamental topics of the theoretical, philosophical, and methodological reflection on literature: interpretation and reception, the definition of literature and literary genres, narrative, poetry and verse, value and the canon are some of the issues about which students will gain a deeper knowledge and improve their abilities of critical thinking and discussion. In addition, students will become more competent at analyzing and interpreting literary texts from several perspectives and they will learn to take part in the discourse of literary criticism.