UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DEL ESTADO DE MÉXICO

FACULTAD DE LENGUAS
agosto 2009
ANÁLISIS LITERARIO/ LITERARY ANALYSIS
M. E. N. RUBEN HERNANDEZ A.
Presentation
In this class we shall study, analyze and produce materials of different literary genres, such as the short story, poetry, memoir and
the novel. A revision of their components will be instrumental to understand each genre. (short story: plot, characters, setting, etc; poetry:
metaphor, simile, comparison; memoir: non-fiction; novel: theoretical perspectives). Students must be able to write an essay, step by step.
Towards the end of the course, we will see additional instruments of analysis including theoretical standpoints that may help us focus on
different aspects of the literary work (historic/psychoanalytic/stylistic/postcolonial perspectives).

Evaluation
Evaluation will be based on 3 rubrics:
1) work in class, consisting of the materials produced along the course, 40% of the evaluation;

2) a partial exam, consisting of 4 questions related to the readings, 40% of the evaluation;

3) an essay consisting in any topic/theme of the readings, 20% of the evaluation.

Partial Evaluations are presented thus:

Essay 20%
Work in Class 40%
Exams 40%
100%

Attendance
According to your attendance, you may take different exams

100%-80% Final (6)

79%-60% Extraordinario (12)
59%-30% Título de Suficiencia (21)
Under 30% Repeat the course (>21)

Contents and Tentative Calendar

Changes may occur according to times and responses to material

Week 1: Beginnings: Presentation of the course Weeks 8, 9: Fiction: The Short Story (8, 9): Irony and Satire

Weeks 1, 2: Fiction: The Short Story (1):Plot
Weeks 2, 3, 4: Fiction: The Short Story (2): Characters (How to
write an essay)
Weeks 4, 5: Fiction: The Short Story (3, 4): Theme and Point of
View
Weeks 10, 11, 12: Poetry (1, 2, 3, 4, 5): Language, Symbols,
Tone, Imagery and Sounds
Weeks 13, 14: Non-Fiction (1, 2, 3): Journals, Travel literature
and Autobiography/Memoir
Week 15: Drama (1, 2): Tragedy and Comedy

Weeks 6, 7: Fiction: The Short Story (5, 6, 7): Tone, Symbols Weeks, 16, 17: The Novel (1, 2, 3): Theoretical Approaches.
and Setting

Secondary Reading
 Bell, James Scott. Plot and Structure. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books, 2004.
 Bernays, Ann. What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers. New York: Longman, 1995.
 Brande, Dorothea. Becoming a Writer. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1981.
 Burroway, Janet. Elements of Literature. Chicago: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1993.
 Drury, John. Creating Poetry. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books, 1991.
 Gill, Richard. Mastering English Literature. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2006.
 Lodge, David. The Art of Fiction. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1991.
 Knight, Damon. Creating Short Fiction. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1997.
 Kress, Nancy. Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books, 2005.
 Rozakis, Laurie. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creative Writing. New York: Alpha, 2004.
 Showalter, Elaine. Teaching Literature. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2003.
 Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. New York: Routledge, 2006.
 Vizinczey, Stephen. Truth and Lies in Literature. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1986.
 Whiteley, Carol. The Everything Creative Writing Book. Massachusetts: Adams Media, 2002.