Type above to search for any department within the University of St. Thomas, or click any link to the right to go straight there. The list will automatically shorten as you type.
Literary theorist Terry Eagleton tells us that "Evil is unintelligible;" nevertheless, this course will attempt to bring some intelligent thought to the concept of evil in literature. What is it about evil that fascinates us? Why are evil characters so compelling? Can someone be inherently evil or is evil socially constructed by a particular environment or situation? Does redemption factor into our discussion? Eagleton further tells us that "malevolence cannot be monotonous," so the texts for this course won't be either. Focusing on fiction and nonfiction with a musical text probably added for good measure, we'll likely read Truman Capote's IN COLD BLOOD, Tim O'Brien's IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS, Lionel Shriver's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, Gloria Naylor's LINDEN HILLS, and Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.
Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 12 pages of formal revised writing.
Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 12 pages of formal revised writing.
