ENG 250W — Special Topics - Genre
This class will familiarize students with the major elements of a particular genre - defined by Merriam-Webster as a category of literary composition characterized by a particular form, style or content - through the study of representative works according to a variety of topics and themes. Students will consider works both in terms of their individual merits and their contributions to the genre. In addition, students will consider the relationship between form and theme, and the influences of culture and history on the development of the genre. The class will enhance students' critical understanding of the elements of a particular genre (for example, formal rules of composition, stock characters, and typical settings), and how these contribute to the formulation of its predominant themes.