This syllabus was submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs by the course instructor.This course is designed with three central goals in mind. These goals are: · To clarify the connection between modern theories of literature and the longer tradition of philosophical inquiry from which these theories emerged. · To provide students with basic understanding of terms and concepts central to the range of theoretical perspectives that guide contemporary scholars of literature. · To allow students to interrogate and ultimately, through writing and class discussion, to evaluate these theoretical perspectives. · To enable students to evaluate literary criticism with greater insight and rigor.