ENGL 261Exploring Literary Forms

3 credits · English · Penn State

What is genre and why does it matter to the study of literature? This course takes up the question of genre - what it is and why it matters - using a particular literary form (the early novel, epic poetry, episodic drama, memoir detective fiction, etc.) as its focus. Students will examine specific genre iterations across time and media, with attention to how conventional forms can both value tradition and incorporate innovation.