Course Schedule

This course focuses on theories of reader response, both in relation to the reading process and to literary criticism, with a major emphasis on Louise Rosenblatt's transactional theories of literature. Exploration of reading as a social act that involves multiple, diverse interpretations within a democratic context will be explored through a close examination of Rosenblatt's theories and a broad survey of other theoretical perspectives on reader response. Implications of these theories for practice will also be considered.

An introductory survey of the major linguistic-anthropological theories and modes on analysis as these have developed over the last century, with a textual focus on original articles. Topics include: language; culture and thought; semiotics; social interaction; verbal art.