NCHU Course Outline
Course Name (中) 文學批評(5119)
(Eng.) Literary Criticism
Offering Dept Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Course Type Elective Credits 3 Teacher CHEN YOU-TING
Department Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures/Undergraduate Language 中/英文 Semester 2025-SPRING
Course Description This course aims to introduce literary criticism to undergraduate and graduate students who have not previously studied this field. Students who already have knowledge in this field of study and wish to deepen their understanding may consider exploring other options. This course introduces the major schools of literary criticism from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The course will begin by examining foundational twentieth-century theories, such as new criticism, structuralism, and deconstructive/post-structuralist criticism. It will then proceed to cover contemporary approaches, including postmodernist, psychoanalytic, feminist, queer, and postcolonial criticisms. The course will explain and discuss the key ideas and concepts of each criticism, focusing on the critical debates surrounding them, as well as the continuity or discontinuity of these ideas and concepts in the history of literary criticism.
Prerequisites
self-directed learning in the course Y
Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%) Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives Competency Indicators Ratio(%) Teaching Methods Assessment Methods
This course introduces students to contemporary critical concepts and theoretical thoughts, providing them with essential vocabulary and knowledge of the major schools of literary criticism from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students are expected to understand the core assumptions, historical contexts, representative critics, and critical debates of each criticism. Students are also encouraged to apply these critical perspectives and insights to literary and cultural studies.
Discussion
Lecturing
Written Presentation
Attendance
Oral Presentation
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content
Week 1 2/18
Overview of the course and expectations
New criticism (chapter 1)
Week 2 2/25
Structuralism (chapter 2)
Week 3 3/4
Narratology (chapter 12)
Week 4 3/11
Post-structuralism (chapter 3)
Week 5 3/18
Deconstruction (chapter 3)
Week 6 3/25
Postmodernism (chapter 4)
Week 7 4/1
No class (make-up day for NCHU anniversary celebration and sports day)
Week 8 4/8
Psychoanalytic criticism: Freud (chapter 5, pp. 97-110)
* Written response 1 due
Week 9 4/15
Psychoanalytic criticism: Lacan (chapter 5, pp. 110-122)
Week 10 4/22
Feminist criticism (chapter 6)
Week 11 4/29
Queer theory (chapter 7)
Week 12 5/6
Marxist criticism (chapter 8)
Week 13 5/13
New historicism and cultural materialism (chapter 9)
Week 14 5/20
Postcolonial criticism (chapter 10)
Week 15 5/27
Ecocriticism (chapter 13)
* Written response 2 due
Week 16 6/3
Review (chapter 15)
Week 17 6/10
【self-directed learning】
Outside class reading and writing
Week 18 6/17
【self-directed learning】
Outside class reading and writing
Evaluation
20% Participation
40% Oral presentation *2
40% Written response *2

1. Students’ participation will be determined by their attendance and contributions to class discussions. Active participation in class discussions is highly valued.
2. Each student is required to give two oral presentations on two schools of criticism. The student must summarize the reading materials and generate questions for class discussion. Each presentation should not exceed sixty minutes, and the student is responsible for leading the class discussion afterward.
3. Each student is required to write two responses to two schools of criticism. Each response must include a summary and an evaluation of the key ideas discussed in class. The response must be written in English and should be 1 to 2 pages in length, approximately 500 to 1000 words. The first response is due in Week 8, and the second is due in Week 15. Overdue responses will not be accepted.
4. This course has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Students who commit this act of academic misconduct will fail this course and be reported to the Office of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. If students have any questions regarding the use and citation of sources in their writing, they are responsible for consulting with their instructor before the assignment’s due date.
5. Students who are suspected of relying too much on ChatGPT or other generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help with their assignments must take a written exam to attest to their understanding of the content covered in their assignments. Those who refuse to adhere to this policy will receive a zero for that assignment.
Textbook & other References
1. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (Fourth Edition), written by Peter Barry, published by Manchester University Press (Manchester, 2017).
2. The textbook can be purchased at Cave Books on campus（中興大學敦煌書局）.
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
None.
Office Hours
Thursday, 15:00-17:00 (by appointment)
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs
include experience courses：N
Please respect the intellectual property rights and use the materials legally.Please repsect gender equality.
Update Date, year/month/day：2025/01/08 17:34:15 Printed Date, year/month/day：2025 / 1 / 22
The second-hand book website：http://www.myub.com.tw/