This course is the first in a series of survey courses on the history of literary criticism and theory in the West. It will concentrate on ancient literary theory from Plato to Augustine by way of Aristotle, ancient rhetoricians, Horace, Plutarch, Longinus and Plotinus. In addition to these core readings, students will be asked to give oral presentations based on modern commentaries on ancient texts (Nietzsche, Heidegger, Derrida, Deleuze, Ricoeur, etc.)

This course fulfills the Ph.D. Program in Theory and Criticism requirements.