ACP A202 Literary Interpretation emphasizes a close, thoughtful reading of representative literary texts in poetry, drama, fiction, novel, and appropriate nonfiction prose originally written in English and drawn from a range of historical periods and countries. The course is not a survey of the literature of any country or historical period. A major goal is to develop the ability to read and write with precision, responsibility, and imagination. Students should expect to participate in thoughtful class discussions and write both shorter critical responses and several, longer analytical papers. These papers will be developed entirely from students’ own careful reading and analysis. Close reading of a few selected texts, rather than wide coverage, is encouraged. Students will be expected to use and distinguish among a variety of approaches to literary interpretation, both through the use of literary tropes and various critical frames, as appropriate to each work. (Students enrolled in A202 can earn 3 hours of credit from Indiana University)

This pair of courses may be an appropriate choice for students who have been in the Honors English Program or English Core 40. Students who elect these courses should be strong students with well-developed writing skills who should understand that there will be heavy demands for reading and writing. Students who have not met Indiana University’s requirements for admission may want to strengthen their academic preparation before attempting this course. In most cases, students who elect W131 and A202 should plan to enroll for IU credit.