Criticism Course

First Year
 Course Objectives
• The main aim of this course is to
shed light on the classical theories
which attempt to understand the
phenomenon of literature and
understand its components.
 Course Description
Week Topic
1 Introduction to the course objectives
2 Towards an understanding of literature I
(Edward Said’s “Literature and Literalism”)
3 Towards an understanding of literature II
(Mohammed Enani’s “‫ الفصل األول ”األدب فن جميل‬:‫األدب وفنونه‬
4 Towards an understanding of theory
(Jonathan Culler’s “what is theory”)
5 Classical Literary Criticism
Plato’s philosophy
6 Plato’s philosophy in relation to literature
(“The Republic”)
7 Aritotle’s philosophy
8 Mid-Term Exam
9 Aristotle’s philosophy in relation to literature
(“The Poetics)
10 Horace’s philosophy
11 Horace’s philosophy in relation to literature

12 Each student is required to submit an essay that critiques a literary work in light
of the studied theories through out the course
13 Reviewing essays
 Lecture One

Towards an understanding of literature I

(Edward Said’s “Literature and Literalism”)
 Try to answer those questions in light of
what you read.
• According to your reading, how is literature viewed by
critics?
• What is the main concern of the author?
• What is The Republic?
• What is the function of literature?
• What is the battle of interpretations?
• What is literalness?
• Who is Karl Marx and what happened to the author
when he was at Poland?
• How does the author view art?
• What is the duty of intellectuals and writers?
 Midterm Exam
A- Answer the following questions CHOOSE ONE ONLY :
1- What are the various functions of literature? (5 marks)
2- What did Said mean by the “battle of interpretations”? Do you
agree or disagree? (5 marks)
B- Write short notes on the following concepts:
1- Literature and literary genres (2.5 marks)
2- Literary criticism (2.5 marks)
C- Answer the following question. Write a standing alone
paragraph.
In The Republic Plato conceived an ideal society where no poets
exist. Discuss what made Plato write The Republic and how his
strategy to change education affected the way he sees
literature. (10 marks)