ELIT412 Literary Theory and Criticism I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Dec 12, 2025
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English Language and Literature
Nadira Puškar Mustafić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the major schools of literary theory and equips them with the analytical tools needed for advanced textual interpretation. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify and explain key concepts from New Criticism, Russian Formalism, Structuralism, Semiotics, Reader-Response, Marxist, and Psychoanalytic criticism. They will learn to compare these approaches and understand how each theory conceptualizes literature, meaning, and the role of the reader. Students will apply theoretical frameworks to close-read poems and prose, demonstrating how interpretation changes through different perspectives. The course also develops critical thinking by requiring students to construct clear, well-supported arguments. Finally, students will communicate their insights effectively through class discussions, written responses, and a formal presentation.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Literary Theory; The Basics, Hans Bertens, Routledge 2001 Critical Theory Today: A User- Friendly Guide, Lois Tyson, Routledge 2006 Eagleton, T. (2008). Literary theory: An introduction (25th anniversary ed.). Wiley‑Blackwell.
Additional Literature
Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory, Peter Barry, MUP, 1995Teaching Methods
Lectures
Discussions
In-class activities
Take-home/in-class assignments
And presentations.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Literary Theory , Terry Eagletone (What is Literature?) | Presentation |
| 2 | General overview of the main ideas, Eagletone, The Rise of English | Presentation |
| 3 | Practical Criticism +New Criticism+ T.S Eliot (Tradition and the individual talent) | Tyson 135-165 |
| 4 | Poem analysis + Russian Formalism (video plus discussion) | Tyson 143-147 Handout |
| 5 | Russian Formalism + Structuralism, Quiz 1 | Barthens 31-50 |
| 6 | Structuralism and literature + R. Barthes essay | Tyson 209-246 |
| 7 | Semiotics + Reader Response Theory | Tyson 169-204 |
| 8 | Midterm exam progress review, MIDTERM | |
| 9 | Marxist Criticism | Tyson 53-80 |
| 10 | Marxist Criticism | Tyson 53-80 |
| 11 | Psychoanalytic Criticism | Tyson 1-39 |
| 12 | Lacanian psychoanalysis, Quiz 2 (take home) | Tyson 1-39 |
| 13 | Presentations | |
| 14 | Presentations | |
| 15 | Progress Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIT412.1 | Course | Tuesday 13:00 - 15:50 | A F1.25 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 12:00 | A F3.25 | |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 12:00 | A F3.25 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 4 5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Attending the lectures
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignment + Presentation
50 hours ⏳ (10 week × 5 h)
Home study/Revision
13 hours ⏳ (13 week × 1 h)
Studying for the midterm exam
21 hours ⏳ (3 week × 7 h)
Studying for the final exam
21 hours ⏳ (3 week × 7 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ELIT412] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Dec 12, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ELIT412 | Literary Theory and Criticism I | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nadira Puškar Mustafić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 8:30-12:00 Wednesday: 8:30-12:00 |
|||||||
| npuskar-mustafic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | mcengic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to the major schools of literary theory and equips them with the analytical tools needed for advanced textual interpretation. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify and explain key concepts from New Criticism, Russian Formalism, Structuralism, Semiotics, Reader-Response, Marxist, and Psychoanalytic criticism. They will learn to compare these approaches and understand how each theory conceptualizes literature, meaning, and the role of the reader. Students will apply theoretical frameworks to close-read poems and prose, demonstrating how interpretation changes through different perspectives. The course also develops critical thinking by requiring students to construct clear, well-supported arguments. Finally, students will communicate their insights effectively through class discussions, written responses, and a formal presentation. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Literary Theory; The Basics, Hans Bertens, Routledge 2001 Critical Theory Today: A User- Friendly Guide, Lois Tyson, Routledge 2006 Eagleton, T. (2008). Literary theory: An introduction (25th anniversary ed.). Wiley‑Blackwell. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, discussions, in-class activities, take-home/in-class assignments, and presentations. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Literary Theory , Terry Eagletone (What is Literature?) | Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 2 | General overview of the main ideas, Eagletone, The Rise of English | Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Practical Criticism +New Criticism+ T.S Eliot (Tradition and the individual talent) | Tyson 135-165 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Poem analysis + Russian Formalism (video plus discussion) | Tyson 143-147 Handout | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Russian Formalism + Structuralism, Quiz 1 | Barthens 31-50 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Structuralism and literature + R. Barthes essay | Tyson 209-246 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Semiotics + Reader Response Theory | Tyson 169-204 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam progress review, MIDTERM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Marxist Criticism | Tyson 53-80 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Marxist Criticism | Tyson 53-80 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Psychoanalytic Criticism | Tyson 1-39 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Lacanian psychoanalysis, Quiz 2 (take home) | Tyson 1-39 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Presentations | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Presentations | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Progress Review | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 1,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignment | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Attending the lectures | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignment + Presentation | 5 | 10 | 50 | |||
| Home study/Revision | 1 | 13 | 13 | Studying for the midterm exam | 7 | 3 | 21 | |||
| Studying for the final exam | 7 | 3 | 21 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 15/12/2025 | |||||||||