LIT-300 is an introduction to the major schools of contemporary critical theory, and an examination of principal exponents of these theories. Students become familiar with the most important features of psychoanalytic criticism, Marxism, and feminism, and examine the meaning of structuralism and post-structuralism. The course affords an opportunity to practice applying the theories to specific literary texts, employing methodologies like close reading and comparative analysis, with case studies on canonical works and contemporary literature.
Understanding theory through its principal exponents
The course examines the principal exponents of each theoretical school directly, grounding abstract theoretical concepts in the actual thinkers who developed and refined them, rather than presenting theory as disembodied abstract ideas.
From theory to genuine textual application
LIT-300 goes beyond describing theoretical schools into actually applying them to specific literary texts, ensuring students can genuinely use these theories analytically, not just describe them conceptually.
Key topics in LIT300
- Psychoanalytic criticism
- Marxist literary criticism
- Feminist literary theory
- Structuralism and post-structuralism
- Applying theory to literary texts
- Close reading and comparative analysis methodologies
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Worked example: theory applied versus theory described
- Describing Marxist criticism: Explaining that Marxist theory examines class and economic power structures in literature
- Applying Marxist criticism: Actually analyzing a specific novel's class dynamics using this framework
- Lesson: LIT-300 teaches that genuine literary theory competency requires this practical application step, not just conceptual description of what a theory says
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Frequently asked questions
LIT-200 introduces a broad range of critical approaches (17 methods) at a more foundational level, teaching students to select and justify a lens for analysis, while LIT-300 goes deeper into the major schools of contemporary theory specifically — grounding them in principal theoretical exponents and requiring more sustained application through close reading and comparative analysis across canonical and contemporary texts. A student typically builds foundational critical approach literacy in LIT-200 before LIT-300's deeper theoretical and applied work.
Literary theories were developed and refined by specific thinkers whose particular arguments, disagreements, and nuances shaped how each school of thought actually works, and studying these principal exponents directly gives students a richer, more accurate understanding than a flattened summary of 'what feminist theory says' might provide. LIT-300 grounds theory in its actual originators because this connects students to the genuine intellectual history and internal debates within each theoretical school, not a simplified, generic version of it.