J.A. Cuddon, editor of the renowned Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, defines genre as “a kind, type, or class of literature,” recognizable through its distinctive attributes and features.
One way readers can come to a deeper understanding about a work of literature is by seeing it as part of a larger genre, and by assessing how it adheres to—or departs from—those defining characteristics. All genres have discrete elements, which enable readers to subject a work to a close reading and analysis, and to unpack its various layers of meaning. Many genres have sub-genres or even sub-sub-genres, which allow readers to explore a work with increasing levels of sensitivity, and to communicate those ideas to others in a coherent way.
This course will introduce students to four main literary genres: short fiction, drama, literary non-fiction, and poetry. It will impart a vocabulary and taxonomy for analysing literature, and it will construct a framework that emphasizes effective writing, critical thinking, and close reading. By doing so, this course will provide students with a sense of the richness and variety of literature, and it will equip them with the reading and writing skills they need for further English studies.
Course Information
Lecture Hours
remote instruction
Lecture Locations
remote instruction
Tutorial Leaders
Please see onQ for your Tutorial Leader's contact information.
Departmental Student Council (DSC) Representatives
Massimo Recupero (19mr45@queensu.ca)
Maeve Stemp (19mms8@queensu.ca)
Course Syllabus
Download the printer-friendly version of the Course Syllabus in .pdf by clicking on the thumbnail below.
(updated 2 Dec. 2020)
Lecture Notes and PowerPoint Presentations
Autumn Weeks 1-6 (PDF, 3.0 MB)
Autumn Weeks 7-12 (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Other Materials
Writing Seminar 1 (PDF, 179 KB)
Writing Seminar 2 (PDF, 323 KB)