Analysing Prose: Short Fiction and Essays

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This is an introductory university-level course that develops students’ skills in reading and analyzing fiction and non-fiction by focusing on the elements of fiction and the essay. The short stories are from a wide range of authors, from the nineteenth century when the modern short story first emerged, to the late twentieth century. Students will study the elements of fiction: plot, characterization, point of view, setting, theme, and style. Students will learn what these elements are, and what effect they have on interpretation. The other half of the course looks at essays that span over four centuries, from the seventeenth century to the late twentieth. The course focuses on the experience, interpretation, and evaluation of an essay, using four major elements: voice, style, structure, and thought.