ELIT515 Literary Criticism & Theory I: From Plato to Present
ELIT515 Literary Criticism & Theory I: From Plato to Present
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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English Language and Literature
Course Objectives
The course has two goals: (1) to foster close study, analysis, and appreciation of literary texts and (2) to enhance writing skills useful in academic and professional settings. Discussion will focus on characteristics of each of the three major literary genres (fiction, poetry, and drama), general critical approaches, interpretation of individual works, and methods of analyzing and writing about literature.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Terry Eagleton: Literary Theory (Blackwell, Oxford); Gregory Castle: The Blackwell Guide to Literary Theory (Blackwell Publishing);
Additional Literature
Texts to be studied (but not limited to) extracts from: Plato: Republic; Aristotle: Poetics; Philip Sidney: An Apology for Poetry; Pope: An Essay on Criticism; Kant: Critique of Judgement; Shelley: Defence of Poetry; Emerson: The American Scholar; Poe: The Philosophy of Composition; Wilde: The Critic as Artist; Jameson: The Political Unconscious; Wimsatt and Beardsley: The Intentional Fallacy; The Affective Fallacy; Fry: The Archetypes of Literature; Barthes: The Death of the Author; Derrida: On GrammatologyTeaching Methods
Weekly lectures; in-class discussions and group work; close reading
Individual work; student self-assessment and peer evaluation;
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | introduction to the course; Why Literary Theory? Using the introduction to the textbook, students will be asked to formulate in writing their answers to this question and to identify the crucial issues involved. | |
| 2 | Classical literary criticism, commencing with issues: what precisely is Plato's argument for banning poetry? Is it epistemological or moral? How does it relate to Plato's theory of Forms? Does Plato contradict these arguments in his Ion? To what extent is Aristotle's conception of poetry epiphenomenal of his quarrel, at a philosophical level, with Plato's theory of Forms? Was Horace a revolutionary or a reactionary apologist? Was it possible to theorise, beyond Stoicism, in a Roman world where only one ma | extracts from Plato's Republic + Ion; Aristotle's Poetics; Horace's Ars Poetica |
| 3 | Maedieval literary theory: ; the principal characteristics of Mediaeval semiotic theory; Aquinas' conception of beauty; functions of figurative language; Dante's highly allegorical modes | Thomas Aquinas; Dante Aleghieri / selections from texts |
| 4 | Renaissance literary theory: Sydney's attempts to situate poetry within a broader (Christian) scheme of things and to insist on its didactic character | Sir Philip Sydney's An Apology for Poetry; |
| 5 | Neoclassical literary theory: Pope’s An Essay on Criticism reflecting the values of neoclassical criticism, addresses an issue raised by Horace: Nature versus Art. | Pope’s An Essay on Criticism; Dryden "An Essay" |
| 6 | Revision of literary criticism and theories from antiquity to 17th century | |
| 7 | MID-TERM EXAM | |
| 8 | From Enlightenement to Romanticism: : The Romantics’ argument for the autonomy of poetry --its freedom from religious, moral or political constraint -- is still influential today | Kant's Critique of Judgment; Hegel's "Introduction" to Lectures on Fine Art; and Shelley's Defence of Poetry |
| 9 | What were the connections between European and American Romanticism? How much did American Romantics owe to German idealism? | Emerson, "The American Scholar" and "The Poet"; Poe, "The Philosophy of Composition" |
| 10 | Symbolism and Aestheticism: : what was the nature of the symbolists' reaction to the modern world? How does symbolist poetry relate to Romanticism, and how does it prepare the way for modernist aesthetics? | Gautier, Preface to Mademoiselle de Maupin; Baudelaire, selections, ; Mallarme, "Crisis in Poetry" |
| 11 | Victorian period: How subversive were the emphasis on art for art's sake and the principles of aestheticism? In what ways does Nietzsche challenge and undermine the basic tenets of Western philosophy and aesthetics? | Wilde, "The Critic as Artist"; Nietzsche, "On Truth and Lying"; |
| 12 | What is the Marxist conception of the "human": scientific, humanist, fatalistic? Must literary value be related to a particular ideological stance? If not, how do Marxist aesthetics accommodate political commitment? | Horkheimer and Adorno, Dialectic of Enlightenment; Jameson, The Political Unconscious |
| 13 | 20th century: Formalism: What are the central features of formalism, according to Eichenbaum? | Boris Eichenbaum, "The Theory of the 'Formal Method'; A Wimsatt and Beardsley, "The Intentional Fallacy" and "The Affective Fallacy": |
| 14 | Structuralism and Deconstruction: how does Structuralism advance beyond previous methods of analysis? What are its philosophical assumptions about identity, authorship and language? | Northrop Frye, "The Archetypes of Literature"; Roland Barthes, "The Death of the Author" and "From Work to Text"; Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology; |
| 15 | Revision of literary criticism and theories from 17th century to present day theories |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
In-class activity / presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
In-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Assignment / written
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 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:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Presentation
6 hours ⏳ (2 week × 3 h)
Assignment
4 hours ⏳ (1 week × 4 h)
In-term exam study
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Final exam study
30 hours ⏳ (3 week × 10 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 [ELIT515] 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 Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In-class activity / presentation | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| In-term exam | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Homework | 1 | 10 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignment / written | 1 | 10 | 3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| Presentation | 3 | 2 | 6 | Assignment | 4 | 1 | 4 | |||
| In-term exam study | 10 | 2 | 20 | Final exam study | 10 | 3 | 30 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||