Why does literary language exert such a powerful pull on the human imagination? How does the artfully attentive weaving together of patterned sounds and ideas so captivate and enthrall readers and listeners?  What conclusions can we draw from the fact that the basic building blocks of the most highly esteemed fiction, poetry, and drama correspond directly with the forms of linguistic play most favored by toddlers and kindergartners?  

This course offers a deep dive into the inner workings of narrative, metaphor, rhyme, and rhythm as essential literary techniques but also as core cognitive technologies that shape the ways we think, learn, and find our place in the world. Far from being merely ornamental or entertaining add-ons, we’ll find that the devices that set apart certain uses of language as distinctively imaginative can be shown, on closer examination, to correspond to and help to illuminate some of the fundamental workings of the human mind.

This course satisfies the following CURRENT English major/minor requirements: Pre-1830, Poetry

This course satisfies the following NEW English major/minor requirements: Foundations & Methods (300/400-level), Regions (Americas, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland), Time (Medieval, Early Modern), Time (Contemporary/Modern)

Course Requirements:

Course requirements include regular attendance and participation, timely completion of readings, and occasional in-class quizzes. Students choose among a variety of additional assignment options, including presentations, writing exercises, and an exam, enabling them to tailor the course experience to meet individual learning goals.

Intended Audience:

This course is intended for undergraduates at any level with an interest in literary studies, linguistics, and/or human psychology.