Course Description: The two-semester series of Introduction to Literature 1 and 2 is intended to familiarize students with three major literary genres（fiction, poetry, drama）and to strengthen students’ ability in reading, analyzing, and discussing works of literature from a discerning and critical standpoint. In each semester students are introduced to representative texts in fiction, poetry, and drama, as well as to the most common analytical terms. Students read closely, think critically, and evaluate texts chosen to elucidate critical ideas introduced in class. Class meetings include instructor-led textual examination, student-generated discussion, and individual or group presentations of selected works. Introduction to Literature 1 consists of a semester-long study of short and approachable works of fiction, in the first part of the semester. After the midpoint of the term a representative selection of poetry is also introduced, and in the final few weeks one or two one-act plays are also studied. Students will be expected to become familiar with common terms used to analyze fiction and drama, e.g. plot, setting, character, and narrative point of view, as well as common terms used to discuss poetry, e.g. line, stanza, rhyme and meter, etc. Although most of the selections will consist of lyrical poetry, narrative, and dramatic forms may also be introduced.

Students will gain basic understanding of literary genres (fiction, poetry, and drama) and obtain critical vocabularies to appreciate and analyze literary works.

Mays, Kelly J., ed. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter 14th ed. New York: Norton, 2022.