This course is the first encounter with Literature for students entering the department. In the fall semester of the first year students will be reading short fiction and short dramas be introduced to plot, character, point of view, setting, language, style, irony, theme, symbol, and other aspects of literary texts. They will learn about these elements of literature by reading both traditional and modern pieces of fiction. They will also be introduced to poetry. An important and ambitious goal of this class is that students will enjoy reading literature as well as learn to understand themselves and the world around them better. Reading is delightful and over the course of this semester we will hopefully come to form a community of readers who are willing to share ideas and help one another understand. Active participation is essential to the success of this class.

Students have to follow the department's guidelines regarding academic integrity. Plagiarism will result in punishment.

This course is the first encounter with Literature for students entering the department. In the fall semister of the first year students will be reading short fiction and short dramas be introduced to plot, character, point of view, setting, language, style, irony, theme, symbol, and other aspects of literature texts. They will learn about these elements of literature by reading both traditional and modern pieces of fiction. They will also be introduced to poetry. An important and ambitious goal of this class is that students will enjoy reading literature as well as learn to understand themselves and the world around them better. Reading is delightful and over the course of this semester we will hopefully come to form a community of readers who are willing to share ideas and help one another understanding. Active participation is essential to the success of this class.

Students have to follow the department's guidelines regarding academic integrity. Plagiarism will result in punishment.

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.

Course Description: The two-semester series of Introduction to Literature 1 and 2 is intended to familiarize students with three major literature 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 semiconductor 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 instrumentor-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.

Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter Fourteenth Edition, New York, W.W. Norton & Company, 1973; 2022.

Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter Fourteenth Edition, New York, W.W. Norton & Company, 1973; 2022.