English Department 100 East Seminary Street
Greencastle, IN
46135-0037
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English department
The Literature Major
The purpose of the literature major is to cultivate in students a broad and deep knowledge of literary works from diverse times and places and a knowledge of how to interpret or make meaning of these works and of others they will encounter over a lifetime of reading. To these ends, students will read widely in literature from different times, places, social classes, genders, races, and ethnicities; read widely in literature of different genres; know and use the disciplinary vocabulary for discussing literature; develop a sense of the relationship between history and literature; know the major periods and movements into which literature in English has traditionally been divided; develop a sense of the relationship between literary tradition and individual variations upon it; know what the canon debate is; know the major movements in literary criticism of the twentieth century; and develop a knowledge in depth of the works of a particular author, literary period, ethnic, class, or gender group.
The literature major will also require students to develop skills of critical, interpretative, and imaginative thinking and writing and of literary research, and to develop an approach to literary texts that is at once aesthetically appreciative, imaginative, open, sensitive to cultural differences and ethical issues, questioning, critical, evaluative, and informed.
Requirements for the Literature Major
A minimum of 10 courses are required for a major with a concentration on literature, including:
- ENG 151 Literature and Interpretation (group 3)
- Survey courses: ENG 281, 282, 283 (two of three required)
- Six literature course electives:
- at least four at the 300-400 level
- ENG 197 FYS and ENG 201 Introduction to Creative Writing counts as an elective
- Seminar in literature (ENG 461)
- At least three courses must be in literature before 1830. These include: ENG 181, 281, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 366; some ENG 155 topics and some 390-394 topics courses.
Students wishing to count courses taken off-campus toward a major in English must have prior approval from their academic advisors and the department chair.
Requirements for the Literature Minor
A minimum of five literature courses with at least two at the 300-400 level (one that stresses writers before 1830 and one that stresses writers after 1830). Students should choose an adviser in the English department for their minor.
Courses
