OpenCourseWare Literary Theory Course

Creative Commons License

The links below outline a theoretical self study course in literary theory using (currently) OpenCourseWare provided by MIT. This list is far from complete and remains to be fleshed out with other courses (from other sources) and validated. I welcome and appreciate any input on this attempt. –DLH

PLEASE NOTE: While the course materials linked here are completely free, the required texts for the courses are not and can sometimes be quite expensive because they are textbooks. In my opinion, do the best you can: find used copies, borrow the books from the library, or budget and buy the books. It’s still cheaper than going to MIT and you can do it at your own pace. –DLH

Core
  • MIT 21L.451 Introduction to Literary Theory (Spring 2010)
  • MIT 21W.730-2 The Creative Spark (Fall 2004)
  • MIT 21L.489J Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice
    • MIT 21L.489J Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice (Spring 2006) or
    • MIT 21L.489J Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice Spring 2004 or
    • MIT 21L.489J Theory and Practice of Non-linear and Interactive Narrative Spring 2003 or
  • MIT 21L.017 The Art of the Probable: Literature and Probability Spring 2008
  • MIT 21L.430 Popular Culture and Narrative: Literature, Comics, and Culture Fall 2010
  • MIT 21L.430 Popular Narrative: Masterminds Fall 2004
  • MIT 21L.450 Literature and Ethical Values Fall 2002
  • MIT 21L.488 Contemporary Literature: Literature, Development, and Human Rights Spring 2008
  • MIT 21L.504J Race and Identity in American Literature: Keepin’ it Real Fake Spring 2007
  • MIT 21L.448J Darwin and Design Fall 2009
  • MIT 21L.448J Darwin and Design Fall 2003
  • MIT 21L.708 Technologies of Humanism Spring 2003
  • 21W.730-5 Writing on Contemporary Issues: Imagining the Future Fall 2007
  • 21W.731-1 Writing and Experience: Exploring Self in Society Spring 2004
  • 21W.731-2 Writing and Experience: Crossing Borders Fall 2010
  • 21W.731-4 Writing and Experience Spring 2002

 Western Narrative

  • MIT 21L.012 Forms of Western Narrative Fall 2007
  • MIT 21L.012 Forms of Western Narrative Spring 2004

Historical Writing

  • MIT 21L.010 Writing with Shakespeare Fall 2010
  • MIT 21L.435 Shakespeare, Film and Media Fall 2002
  • MIT 21L.703 English Renaissance Drama: Theatre and Society in the Age of Shakespeare Fall 2003
  • MIT 21L.707 Writing Early American Lives: Gender, Race, Nation, Faith Fall 2005
  • 21W.746 Humanistic Perspectives on Medicine: From Ancient Greece to Modern America Spring 2005
Autobiography and Essay
  • 21W.735 Writing and Reading the Essay Fall 2005
  • 21W.735 Writing and Reading the Essay Fall 2004
 
Drama
  • MIT 21L.016 Learning from the Past: Drama, Science, Performance Spring 2009
  • MIT 21L.703 Studies in Drama: Too Hot to Handle: Forbidden Plays in Modern America Fall 2008
  • MIT 21L.703 Studies in Drama: Theater and Science in a Time of War Spring 2005
  • MIT 21L.703 Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Churchill Spring 2004
Literature and Fiction
  • MIT 21L.701 Literary Interpretation: Literature and Urban Experience Spring 2009
  • MIT 21L.701 Literary Interpretation: Beyond the Limits of the Lyric Fall 2006
  • MIT 21L.701 Literary Interpretation: Literature and Photography: The Image Fall 2005
  • MIT 21L.701 Literary Interpretation: Interpreting Poetry Fall 2003
  • MIT 21L.701 Literary Interpretation: Virginia Woolf’s Shakespeare Spring 2001
  • MIT 21L.702 Studies in Fiction: Rethinking the American Masterpiece Fall 2007
  • MIT 21L.702 Studies in Fiction: Stowe, Twain, and the Transformation of 19th-Century America Fall 2004
  • 21W.755 Writing and Reading Short Stories Fall 2006
Poetry
  • MIT 21L.704 Studies in Poetry: 20th Century Irish Poetry: The Shadow of W. B. Yeats Spring 2008
  • MIT 21L.704 Studies in Poetry: From the Sonneteers to the Metaphysicals Spring 2006
  • MIT 21L.704 Studies in Poetry: “What’s the Use of Beauty?” Fall 2005
  • MIT 21L.704 Studies in Poetry – British Poetry and the Sciences of the Mind Fall 2004
  • MIT 21L.704 Studies in Poetry: Gender and Lyric — Renaissance Men and Women Writing about Love Spring 2003
  • MIT 21L.704 Studies in Poetry: “Does Poetry Matter” Fall 2002
  • 21W.756 Writing and Reading Poems Fall 2006

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *