The central distinguishing practice of the English discipline – “close reading” – is far from having a stable definition or method. This course explores the ways that literary scholars have developed and applied theories of “close reading” as they define it. We will be reading a lot of theory, examining a series of debates, from the attitude, for example, that the text stands alone, in isolation of its historical moment, to the argument that the text is only understandable from its historical context. We will also study the discipline’s oscillating preference between “surface” and “depth” in interpretive methods. The goal is for students to understand and adopt a more pliable relationship to how we pay close attention to the literary text.
Students who take this course will have previous exposure to theory, having taken at least an introductory survey and would ideally already own the 3rd edition of Norton Anthology of Criticism and Theory.
Additional information
This is a combined graduate and undergraduate seminar. Its aim is to give undergraduates a taste of graduate study in English, but with a workload equivalent to a typical 400-level ENGL course. Its enrolment will consist of approximately two-thirds graduate students and one-third undergraduates.
This course is recommended only for students who have some background in literary theory, whether from ENGL 296 or 297 or some other course with a focus on literary theory. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the English Department at englishdept@queensu.ca.
There are very limited spaces for undergraduates in this course, so enrolment is by permission only. If you are interested in taking it please send your name and student number to englishdept@queensu.ca.
