Literary Studies Syllabus
A complete, free survey of the written word — from ancient epics to contemporary fiction, from poetic form to rhetorical persuasion. Ten courses covering world literature, creative writing in fiction, poetry, and drama, the theory behind storytelling, and specialized fields like translation and children's literature.
10Courses
100Chapters
600Topics
Reading Literature
The global canon — what the world has written from Homer to the present, and the genres that organize it.
1 World Literature Survey (Anthology & Analysis) 10 ch.
- Ancient Epic: Gilgamesh, Homer, Virgil
- Classical Drama: Greek and Roman
- Medieval Literature: East and West
- Renaissance Humanism and Literature
- Enlightenment and Neoclassical Works
- Romanticism Across Cultures
- Realism and Naturalism Worldwide
- Modernist Literature
- Postcolonial Literature
- Contemporary Global Fiction
2 Literary Genres: A Comprehensive Guide 10 ch.
- Epic and Romance
- Tragedy and Comedy
- Satire and Parody
- Gothic and Horror
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy and Magical Realism
- Mystery and Detective Fiction
- Historical Fiction
- Young Adult Literature
- Genre-Blending and Experimental Forms
Creative Practice
The craft of writing — how to create fiction, poetry, and drama that moves readers.
3 Creative Writing: Fiction (Short Story & Novel) 10 ch.
- Elements of Fiction: Plot and Structure
- Character Creation and Development
- Point of View and Narration
- Setting and World-Building
- Dialogue Writing
- Show vs Tell: Description and Scene
- Short Story Form and Techniques
- Novel Structure and Pacing
- Revision and Editing Process
- Publishing and Literary Markets
4 Creative Writing: Poetry (Forms, Techniques, and History) 10 ch.
- Poetic Forms: Sonnet, Villanelle, Haiku
- Free Verse and Open Forms
- Meter and Rhythm
- Rhyme and Sound Patterns
- Imagery and Figurative Language
- Line and Stanza
- Voice and Tone in Poetry
- Modern and Contemporary Poetry
- Poetry Workshop and Revision
- Publishing Poetry
5 Creative Writing: Drama/Playwriting 10 ch.
- Dramatic Action and Conflict
- Three-Act Structure in Drama
- Writing Dialogue for Stage
- Character in Drama
- Subtext and Dramatic Irony
- Stage Directions and Format
- One-Act Play Writing
- Full-Length Play Development
- Table Reads and Workshops
- Play Submission and Production
Theory and Analysis
How stories work — rhetoric, narrative structure, and the history of literary criticism.
6 Rhetoric and the Art of Persuasion 10 ch.
- Classical Rhetoric: Aristotle and Cicero
- The Rhetorical Triangle: Ethos, Pathos, Logos
- Invention and Argument
- Arrangement and Organization
- Style and Diction
- Delivery and Performance
- Visual Rhetoric and Design
- Digital Rhetoric and New Media
- Political and Public Discourse
- Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
7 Narrative Theory and Techniques 10 ch.
- Story vs Discourse
- Narratology: Genette and Structuralism
- Focalization and Perspective
- Time in Narrative
- Unreliable Narrators
- Frame Narratives and Embedding
- Narrative Voice and Distance
- Implied Author and Reader
- Transmedia Storytelling
- Experimental Narrative Forms
8 History of Literary Criticism and Theory 10 ch.
- Classical Rhetoric and Poetics
- Medieval and Renaissance Criticism
- Neoclassicism and Enlightenment
- Romantic Literary Theory
- Formalism and New Criticism
- Structuralism and Semiotics
- Post-Structuralism and Deconstruction
- Marxist and Materialist Criticism
- Feminist and Gender Theory
- Postcolonial and Cultural Studies
Specialized Studies
Deep dives — the unique challenges of translation and writing for young readers.
9 Literary Translation: Theory and Practice 10 ch.
- History of Translation Theory
- Fidelity vs Freedom
- Equivalence and Meaning Transfer
- Cultural Translation and Context
- Translating Poetry
- Prose Translation Techniques
- Drama and Dialogue Translation
- Self-Translation and Bilingual Writers
- Ethics of Translation
- Contemporary Translation Practice
10 Children's Literature: History, Theory, and Practice 10 ch.
- History of Children's Literature
- Picture Books and Early Readers
- Middle Grade Fiction
- Young Adult Literature
- Fairy Tales and Folk Literature
- Fantasy and Adventure
- Diversity and Representation
- Educational and Moral Dimensions
- Illustration and Text Interaction
- Writing for Children: Craft and Market