Topics in Literary Criticism
Objectives
Topics in literary theory will be discussed in view of the following learning goals:
(1) To familiarize students with fundamental questions and concepts in literary theory, building upon textual analysis and interpretative problems raised by works of literature, criticism, and philosophy.
(2) To develop the student's analytical skills and to incentivize their theorizing on literary texts;
(3) To ensure that such theorization is grounded by the text and that it is congruent from a philosophical and literaryhistorical perspective;
(4) To ensure that the acquired skills and knowledge translate into clear, coherent, rigorous and relevant writing.
General characterization
Code
722091133
Credits
10.0
Responsible teacher
Gustavo Maximiliano Florencio Rubim
Hours
Weekly - 3
Total - 280
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
- Paul de Man, Allegories of Reading. Figural Language in Rousseau, Nietzsche, Rilke and Proust. New Haven e Londres: Yale University Press, 1979.
- ___________, The Rhetoric of Romanticism, Nova Iorque: Columbia University Press, 1984.
- ___________, A Resistência à Teoria [The Resistance to Theory, 1986]. Trad. Teresa Louro Pérez. Lisboa: Edições 70, 1989.
- ___________, O Ponto de Vista da Cegueira [Blindness and Insight, 1971]. Trad. Miguel Tamen. Braga, Coimbra e Lisboa: Angelus Novus & Cotovia, 1999.
Teaching method
Teaching methods: Through theoretical exposition and textual analysis this seminar will discuss conceptual, historical and rethorical questions concerning the texts and topics to be discussed in class. The students will be encouraged to elaborate on their views on such texts and topics, and they will be required to make one presentation in class.
Evaluation method
Continuous Assessment - Final essay [4500-6000 words](70%), Presentation in class(30%)
Subject matter
This seminar will discuss fundamental topics of literary criticism and theory in reference to a selection of essays by Paul de Man. Whenever needed, the discussion will be accompanied by analyses of the texts discussed by de Man.
Session 1: Course overview and introduction.
Sessions 2-4: Readings from Blindness and Insight.
— «Criticism and Crisis»
— «Literary History and Literary Modernity»
— «Lyric e Modernity»
Sessions 5-7: Readings from The Resistance to Theory
— « The Resistance to Theory».
— «The Return to Philology»
— «Hypogram and Inscription»
Sessions 8-10: Readings from The Rhetoric of Romanticism
— «Wordsworth and Hölderlin».
— «Autobiography as De-Facement».
Sessions 11-13: Readings from Allegories of Reading
— «Tropes (Rilke)»
— «Reading (Proust)»
— «Allegory of Reading (Profession de foi)»
Session 14: Conclusions.