Maureen Curtin

Classes Taught

ENG 304 Literary Criticism:
We will examine literary “theory” that spans from the Enlightenment to the contemporary period, and we will consider debates about the role of the poet or writer in history. Our initial discussions will focus on modern Irish-American fiction, and the first essay will provide an opportunity to develop literary analysis guided by whatever questions most resonate with you. Though we will move on to examine literary theory primarily, we will reflect on various theoretical approaches by revisiting modern Irish-American fiction throughout the semester.

Teams of students will work together to facilitate class discussion of theoretical texts: identifying, contextualizing, and paraphrasing the central thesis of each project; exploring the premises and implications of each new essay; juxtaposing new inquiries with more familiar ones; and demonstrating how the theoretical text illuminates literature. This kind of engagement will constitute the basis of the second essay. In the final essay project, students will choose a literary text from an extensive list, develop their own theoretically informed analysis and argument, and integrate relevant critical scholarship. This project will be undertaken in stages, including a proposal, an exam, a draft, a conference, and a revision.

Throughout, students will receive feedback as well as opportunities to reflect on that feedback in writing. By the semester’s end, students will advance compelling literary analysis in their own voices while demonstrating growth as critical writers.

ENG 204 or its equivalent is a pre-requisite for the course.