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SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

B.A. ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
DISCIPLINE CORE
B21EG06DC
PRINCIPLES OF LITERARY CRITICISM
CREDITS: 6

Course Objectives

1. To provide the learners with a historical understanding of the various critical

and (literary) theoretical practices from the classical times to the present.

2. To inculcate an understanding of important theoretical practices and develop the skill
and aptitude to apply it in the understanding of literary works.

3. To nurture a deeper insight into the philosophy of literature and thereby
gain a holistic/inclusive approach to life.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course, the learner will be able to,

1. develop a historically nuanced understanding of the various schools of literary

criticism and theory.
2. analyse and appreciate literary texts with an awareness of the various

theoretical perspectives.

3. appreciate and understand the multidisciplinary nature of ‘reading’ literary works.
4. identify and be familiar with critical terms and key concepts.

COURSE DETAILS

BLOCK 1: Classical and Neo-Classical Critical Thought

UNIT 1 Plato – Comments on Drama and poetry –Poetry Mimesis and Diegesis –

Theory of Forms

UNIT 2 Aristotle – Definition of Tragedy – Catharsis – Hamartia

BLOCK 2: Early Modern and Enlightenment (British) Criticism

UNIT 1 Philip Sidney – His Apology for Poetry

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