LIBE 150 - Critical Perspectives in World Literature is one of the courses offered in the common core curriculum for all students across departments at TED University. is one of the courses offered as part of the common core curriculum for students across all departments. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to world literature from an interdisciplinary perspective, giving students the opportunity to explore significant literary genres and sample texts from different historical periods and cultures. Centered around themes such as ‘nature,’ ‘society,’ and ‘the individual,’ the course demonstrates how literature both reflects and shapes cultural, political, and intellectual changes over time. Students learn to recognize literary and rhetorical techniques and develop critical thinking skills to interpret texts within their broader historical and social contexts. Through active discussions and collaborative text analysis exercises, the course enables students to connect with global literary traditions. By the end of the course, students will have broadened their intellectual horizons and gained a solid foundation in the key themes, methods, and debates of world literature, preparing them to analyze literature in depth both academically and in everyday life.
| Course Title | Critical Perspectives in World Literature |
|---|---|
| Course Code | LIBE 150 |
| Course Content | This course serves as an introduction to the critical study of literature and literary production through an interdisciplinary and reflective approach within the field of world literature studies. Students will become familiar with literary and rhetorical devices commonly used in both literary and everyday language and develop knowledge about their functions. Milestone literary genres and texts in the history of literature will be discussed and evaluated from critical, contextual, and analytical perspectives. By focusing on the concepts of “nature,” “society,” and “the individual” and referencing key historical, political, epistemological, and literary paradigm shifts, the course critically examines and assesses different forms of literary production. It offers a broad overview of world literature, covering ancient, medieval, early modern, and contemporary periods, as well as various literary genres and modes of expression. |
| Course Objective | This course aims to explore the historical development of world literature by examining the role of historical and cultural influences on literary texts. It introduces and analyzes changes in literary techniques and thematic approaches over time. In addition, the course focuses on familiarizing students with literary and rhetorical devices commonly used both in literary language and in everyday discourse. A key objective is also to engage students in the critical reading and discussion of selected exemplary literary texts from diverse historical and cultural contexts. |
| Textbook(s) and/or Other Required Material | There is no single primary textbook assigned for this course. The lecture slides have been prepared using online resources and a range of different textbooks. Required weekly readings, literary texts, and other supplementary materials are shared under the relevant weekly headings on the course’s LMS page. When necessary, videos to be watched are also made available on the same platform. |
| Teaching Methods and Techniques | The teaching method of the course is based on interactive and discussion-centered learning in the classroom. Students are expected to actively participate in discussions on topics drawn from materials prepared and presented/supervised by the instructors throughout the course. By contributing their ideas and engaging in these discussions—both individually and in groups—they reinforce their understanding of the relevant topics. |
| Learning Outcomes |
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| The Contribution of the Course to Subject-Specific Teaching | This course provides students with the knowledge and opportunity to engage in discussions on diverse perspectives, approaches, and exemplary literary texts within the context of world literature, considering both historical and geographical dimensions. In doing so, it lays the foundation for developing well-informed, broad-minded, and critically grounded views and ideas in their own fields of specialization. Gaining an understanding of literary productions from different historical periods and geographical contexts enables students to approach their own disciplines from a broader perspective. Moreover, the ability to critically analyze various literary contexts and to develop their own arguments based on these contexts helps students form well-reasoned and persuasive viewpoints, supporting their professional work and enriching their engagement in everyday life. |
| ECTS | 5 |
| Week | Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Course: What Is Literature? |
| 2 | Introduction to Poetry |
| 3 | Reading and Analyzing Poetry |
| 4 | Narrative, Narration, and the Figure of the Narrator: A Theoretical Introduction to Narrative |
| 5 | Reading and Discussing Narrative Texts |
| 6 | A General Overview of World Literature: Beginning with Epic Literature |
| 7 | From Epic to Tragedy and Comedy |
| 8 | Lyric Poetry: From Antiquity to the Early Modern Period |
| 9 | Medieval Thought: Allegory and Meaning in Literature |
| 10 | From the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period: Tales and Frame Narratives |
| 11 | The Rise and Representation of the Individual in Early Modern Literature |
| 12 | 19th Century Literature: Romanticism, Realism, and the Construction of Modern Identity |
| 13 | Contemporary Literary Discourses: Modernism, Postmodernism, and Beyond |
| 14 | The Drama Genre: From Realism to Postmodernism / General Review |