Topic outline

  • Welcome Note



    Dear Scholars,

    I welcome you all to the field of diverse literary theories through the course ENG 333: Literary Theory. I, Subrata Chandra Mozumder, am going to read this course with you this semester, i.e. Summer 2021.

    We are going to get engaged in the BLC (Blended Learning Centre) platform for our continuous learning and development through Forum discussion, Feedback, Interaction, Mentimeter, and other activities; so that we can learn both focused knowledge on the course and create new windows to interpret the texts, politics, and other socio-cultural discourses from the theoretical lens.

    Hence, I would request you all to remain engaged in the BLC Platform always and bring out the better of the best by using all the possible resources.

    I hope, we are going to have an exciting journey of new learning through this course.

    I wish you all the best.

    Subrata Chandra Mozumder


  • Course Introduction


    ENG333: Literary Theory 
    Course Teacher: Subrata Chandra Mozumder 
    Assistant Professor 
    Department of English 

    Course Description/Rationale:

    This course intends to introduce the students to contemporary literary theories. It also aims at creating intellectual ability among students to employ those theories and criticisms in literary texts or contexts and finding discourse.

    The students undertaking the course are usually their undergrad degree in B. A. (Hons) in English. They meet their teacher twice a week (120 minutes per week). The length of each meeting is 60 minutes and the students are expected to participate in theoretical discussions, read texts and analyze them. The materials are designed considering the syllabus, level, and needs of the students. There are related activities and homework to facilitate the learning of the students.

    After completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate a substantial level of knowledge on the background and current practices in literary theories.

    Course Learning Outcomes: (at the end of the course, students will be able to:)

    CLO1

    Demonstrate substantial knowledge of the background of literary theory

    CLO2

    Showcase the knowledge of different literary movements and their influence in literature

    CLO3

    Understand and analyze the ideas of major theorists

    CLO4

    Employ those theories to literary texts


    Teaching and Learning Activities (TLA):

    TLA1

    Interactive discussion using whiteboard/multimedia.

    TLA2

    Active discussion in class (online/onsite) regarding analysis  of theories

    TLA3

    Quiz, Assignment, and Presentation on critical analysis and writing 

    TLA4

    Evaluation of class performances to reach each student in a class for every topic


    Teaching Learning Strategies (TLS): 

    TLS1

    Lecture

    TLS2

    Discussion

    TLS3

    Task-based cooperative learning

    TLS4

    Learning from web resources

    TLS5

    Problem-solving and discovery learning


    Assessment Strategies (AS):


    AS Code

    Assessment Strategies (AS) 

    AS1

    Written Examination (Broad Questions, Short Questions, Explanations & Short Notes)

    AS2

    Class Tests/Quizzes 

    AS3

    Presentation

    AS4

    Assignment 

    AS5

    Oral Test/Viva-Voce 

    AS6

    Poster Presentation/Exhibition

    AS7

    Research Oriented writing 

    AS8

    Student Teaching Student (STS)


    Course Contents: 
    * Structuralism 
    * Poststructuralism 
    *Deconstruction 
    *Psychoanalytic Criticism 
    * Feminism 
    * Marxism 
    *Postcolonialism 

  • Weeks 1 & 2: Sessions 1, 2, 3, & 4: Introduction to Theory


    Lesson Contents: 
    * What is Theory? 
    * What is Literature? 
     * What is Literary Theory? 
    * Why do we study literary theory? 
    Lesson Objectives: 
    * To define theory and literary theory
    * To seek out the connection between literature and literary theory 
    * To understand the necessity of reading literary theory
    * To overview briefly the major literary theory briefly
    Learning Outcomes: 
    Through this lesson, students will be able to: 
    * obtain basic knowledge on literature and literary theory 
    * get an overall account of major literary theories 
    * realize the significance of reading literary theory 

  • Weeks 3, 4, & 5: Lessons: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


      Contents: 

    • What is Feminism? 
    • Who are Feminists? 
    • All the Major weaves of Feminisms 
    • Ecriture Feminine: Helen Cixous 
    • Sex, Gender
    • Elaine Showalter 
    • Simon de Beauvoir
    • Toril Moi  
    • Julia Kristeva
    • Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak 
    • Chandra Talpade Mohanty 
    • Major Feminist Literary trends 
    • Lesson Objectives: 
    • To identify the basic facets of Feminisms
    • To overview the background of male-female discrimination
    • To address women's issues as per the renowned feminists
    • To interpret any text (visual/ written) from feminist perspectives
    • To address social issues from a feminist point of view
    • To analyze the linguistic dominance of men over women

    • Learning Outcomes: 

      At the end of this lesson, students will be able to 
    • get an overview of feminism and feminist literary criticism
    • identify the socio-cultural parameters that make women the other
    • explain the reasons behind the traditional subjugation of women
    • interpret any kind of texts from the feminist lens
    • compare the different waves of feminism
    • analyze how women are dominated linguistically as well
    • plan the means through which men-women discrimination can be reduced from society
    • get inspired to raise their feminist voice

  • Week 6, 7, & 8: Lesson 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, & 16

    Lesson Contents: 

    * Marxism and Related Issues 

    Lesson Objectives: 

    • To have an overview of Marx and Marxism
    • To discuss the rudimentary aspects of Marxist Literary Criticism 
    • To read any piece of literature from the Marxist point of view 

    Learning Outcomes: 

    • With the completion of this lesson, students will be able to
    • explain the parameters of the Marxist literary theory
    • interpret any text (written or visual) from the Marxist lens
    • talk on Marxism and Marxist literary theory


  • Presentation and Assignment


    • Presentation and Assignment: 46A
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46A

      Dear students, 

      Please, choose your advertisement/advertisements of your own for the assignment and presentation, but follow the following instructions: 

      1. Make each group having 3-6 students.

      2. Divide your task equally among the group members. 

      3. Write your assignment analysing the chosen advertisement/advertisements from the feminist lenses. 

      4. Record your video presentation; you can use PowerPoint slides for your presentation. 

      5.  Each person has to talk at least for 1 minute and at best for 2 minutes 30 seconds. 

      6. Remember:  Dress code, pronunciation, grammar, content, and relevance of the analysis to feminism will carry the marks. 

    • Presentation and Assignment: 46B
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46B

      Dear students, 

      Read the text Sultana's Dream in-depth, then decide on a title relating to the feminist study of the text. Don't forget to follow the following: 

      1. Make each group having 3-6 students.

      2. Divide your task equally among the group members. 

      3. Write your assignment analysing the text from the feminist lenses. 

      4. Record your video presentation; you can use PowerPoint slides for your presentation. 

      5.  Each person has to talk at least for 1 minute and at best for 2 minutes 30 seconds. 

      6. Remember: Dress code, pronunciation, grammar, content, and relevance of the analysis to feminism will carry the marks. 

    • Presentation and Assignment: 46C
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46C

      Dear students, 

      Choose any fragment of a cinema that you have watched, and analyze that from the feminist lenses. Please, follow the below instructions for preparing your assignment and presentation. 

      OR. 

      Read the text Sultana's Dream in-depth, then decide on a title relating to the feminist study of the text. Don't forget to follow the following: 

      1. Make each group having 3-6 students.

      2. Divide your task equally among the group members. 

      3. Write your assignment analysing the cinema/text from the feminist lenses. (Word File) 

      4. Record your video presentation; you can use PowerPoint slides for your presentation. 

      5.  Each person has to talk at least for 1 minute and at best for 2 minutes 30 seconds. 

      6. Remember: Dress code, pronunciation, grammar, content, and relevance of the analysis to feminist literary criticism will carry the marks. 

  • 3rd Quiz


    • Class Test (Quiz) 3
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46A

      Only 46A will attempt this option. 

    • Class Test (Quiz) 3
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46B

      Only 46B will attempt this option. 

    • Class Test (Quiz) 3
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46C

      Only 46C will attempt this option. 

  • Week 9, 10, & 11: Class: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, & 22

       

    Learning Objectives: 

    • To overview postcolonialism and Postcolonial Literary Criticism 
    • To identify leading postcolonial theorists
    • To read any text from postcolonial perspectives 
    • To be aware of postcolonial resistance 
    • To censure the colonial ethos and pathos

    Learning Outcomes: 

    • At the end of this lesson, students will be able to 
    • summarize postcolonial literary theory and criticism 
    • problematize the colonial suppression and oppression
    • interpret any text from postcolonial perspectives
    • evaluate the colonial aggression over the colonized nations
    • generate postcolonial resistance

  • Forum Discussion

    • Enjoy the Movie, Avatar Forum
      View Make forum posts: 1

      Dear students, 

      Watch the movie Avatar, and make comments on the movie as a postcolonial critic. 

  • Reflective Note


    Dear students, 

    You are requested to give your valuable feedback on the overall teaching-learning strategies of this course. Please, make comments and give observations that can help me grow intellectually. 

    • Feedback on the course Forum
      View Make forum posts: 1

      Dear students, 

      Please, provide me with your valuable feedback on the course as your feedback is one of the keys to assessing my progress as well as locating my limitations. 

  • Final Examination


    • Final Examination Quiz
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46A

      46A is requested to attempt this section. (Joining Code: FENG33346A)

      Daffodil International University
      Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
      Department of English
      Final Examination, Summer 2021
      Course Code: ENG333
      Course Title: Literary Theory

       

      Course Teacher: Subrata Chandra Mozumder (SCM)

       

              Time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes                                                                          Marks: 40

      1.     Attempt the following questions:                                                                15 × 2 =30

      A)

      Read the following excerpt of a poem. Locate at least three thematic aspects in the excerpt and explain them lensing postcolonial literary criticism.

      OR.

      It is often said that colonial nations dehumanize, oppress and exploit colonized subjects by their hegemonic power. Do you think that the tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are also dehumanized, oppressed and exploited by the Bengalese following the same colonial mechanisms? Explain the binary between the Tribal and the Bengalese in the context of postcolonialism.

      B)  Read the following poem closely about a street child. Evaluate the poem from a Marxist literary lens, and entitle the poem as per your understanding.

      OR. During the ongoing pandemic - COVID-19, working-class people of our country are suffering more than anybody else. Do you think that the binary between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is on the rise due to the pandemic? Give reasons for your answer contextualizing Marxism.

       

      2. Attempt any two of the following:                                                                      5 × 2 =10

      a) A good number of meritorious students from Bangladesh move to American or European countries every year for higher education, and most of them are unwilling to return to their homeland. ___ Analyze this issue of ‘Brain drain’ in the context of postcolonialism.  

      b) Nowadays, celebrating special days like Eid, Puja and/or Pohela Boishakh is unimaginable without shopping.  How can you interpret this practising culture in the context of Marxism?

      c) The Asians are brute, savage, uncultured and lustful. __ Evaluate the statement in the context of ‘Orientalism’.

      d) "You can't eat the orange, and throw the peel away—a man is not a piece of fruit" ___ an employee who has served for a company more than 30 years uttered the quoted words when he was fired by his employer. ___ Evaluate this corporate culture lensing Marxism.


    • Final Examination Quiz
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46B

      46B is requested to attempt this section. (Joining Code: FENG33346B)

      Daffodil International University
      Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
      Department of English
      Final Examination, Summer 2021
      Course Code: ENG333
      Course Title: Literary Theory

       

      Course Teacher: Subrata Chandra Mozumder (SCM)

       

              Time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes                                                                          Marks: 40

      1.     Attempt the following questions:                                                                15 × 2 =30

      A)

      Read the following excerpt of a poem. Locate at least three thematic aspects in the excerpt and explain them lensing postcolonial literary criticism.

      OR.

      It is often said that colonial nations dehumanize, oppress and exploit colonized subjects by their hegemonic power. Do you think that the tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are also dehumanized, oppressed and exploited by the Bengalese following the same colonial mechanisms? Explain the binary between the Tribal and the Bengalese in the context of postcolonialism.

      B)  Read the following poem closely about a street child. Evaluate the poem from a Marxist literary lens, and entitle the poem as per your understanding.

      OR. During the ongoing pandemic - COVID-19, working-class people of our country are suffering more than anybody else. Do you think that the binary between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is on the rise due to the pandemic? Give reasons for your answer contextualizing Marxism.

       

      2. Attempt any two of the following:                                                                      5 × 2 =10

      a) A good number of meritorious students from Bangladesh move to American or European countries every year for higher education, and most of them are unwilling to return to their homeland. ___ Analyze this issue of ‘Brain drain’ in the context of postcolonialism.  

      b) Nowadays, celebrating special days like Eid, Puja and/or Pohela Boishakh is unimaginable without shopping.  How can you interpret this practising culture in the context of Marxism?

      c) The Asians are brute, savage, uncultured and lustful. __ Evaluate the statement in the context of ‘Orientalism’.

      d) "You can't eat the orange, and throw the peel away—a man is not a piece of fruit" ___ an employee who has served for a company more than 30 years uttered the quoted words when he was fired by his employer. ___ Evaluate this corporate culture lensing Marxism.


    • Final Examination Quiz
      Restricted Not available unless: You belong to 46C

      46C is requested to attempt this section. (Joining Code: FENG33346C)

      Daffodil International University
      Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
      Department of English
      Final Examination, Summer 2021
      Course Code: ENG333
      Course Title: Literary Theory

       

      Course Teacher: Subrata Chandra Mozumder (SCM)

       

              Time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes                                                                          Marks: 40

      1.     Attempt the following questions:                                                                15 × 2 =30

      A)

      Read the following excerpt of a poem. Locate at least three thematic aspects in the excerpt and explain them lensing postcolonial literary criticism.

      OR.

      It is often said that colonial nations dehumanize, oppress and exploit colonized subjects by their hegemonic power. Do you think that the tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are also dehumanized, oppressed and exploited by the Bengalese following the same colonial mechanisms? Explain the binary between the Tribal and the Bengalese in the context of postcolonialism.

      B)  Read the following poem closely about a street child. Evaluate the poem from a Marxist literary lens, and entitle the poem as per your understanding.

      OR. During the ongoing pandemic - COVID-19, working-class people of our country are suffering more than anybody else. Do you think that the binary between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is on the rise due to the pandemic? Give reasons for your answer contextualizing Marxism.

       

      2. Attempt any two of the following:                                                                      5 × 2 =10

      a) A good number of meritorious students from Bangladesh move to American or European countries every year for higher education, and most of them are unwilling to return to their homeland. ___ Analyze this issue of ‘Brain drain’ in the context of postcolonialism.  

      b) Nowadays, celebrating special days like Eid, Puja and/or Pohela Boishakh is unimaginable without shopping.  How can you interpret this practising culture in the context of Marxism?

      c) The Asians are brute, savage, uncultured and lustful. __ Evaluate the statement in the context of ‘Orientalism’.

      d) "You can't eat the orange, and throw the peel away—a man is not a piece of fruit" ___ an employee who has served for a company more than 30 years uttered the quoted words when he was fired by his employer. ___ Evaluate this corporate culture lensing Marxism.