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| Harold Bloom (1930-2019): American literary critic |
After reading the classics for 6 months, I've realized that I need to improve my ability to read critically. To address this shortcoming I'll focus on learning literature and literary criticism over the next 100 days.
My guides will be Professor Paul Fry in Introduction to Theory of Literature; Professor John Rogers in his Milton course; the scholars that have written The Norton Introduction to Literature; and three authors recommended by Harold Bloom in the Best of Literary Criticism
- The Greeks and the Irrational by E R Dobbs
- European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages by E R Curtius
- The Mirror and the Lamp by M H Abrams
Other readings will be selections from an anthology of literary criticism, The Critical Tradition edited by David Ritcher, as part of the Introduction to Theory of Literature; and various works by John Milton.
| Literature Courses | |||
| Course | School | Instructor | Hrs |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Yale | Professor Paul H. Fry | 52 |
| Milton | Yale | Professor John Rogers | 48 |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Jerome Beaty Alison Booth J Paul Hunter Kelly J Mays | 98 | |
| TOTAL HOURS | 198 | ||
The hours for the Yale courses include an hour for reading the lecture assignment. The time for studying The Norton Introduction to Literature assumes 2 hours of study for each subtopic.
Based on 12 hours of study a week, 198 hours will take 107 days; but I'm going to stick with the "100 Days" title. (Judging by how long it took me to get through Paul Fry's Introduction today, 107 days looks like a pipe dream.)
Here is my plan for today through May 31, 2025
| Classics Education Plan: 3rd 100 Days | ||
| Course | Module | Description or Reading |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Introduction Introduction (cont) | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter (TB) - - Foucault, Michel. “What Is an Author?” pp. 904-14 - - Barthes, Roland. “The Death of the Author.” pp. 874-77 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Ways In and Out of the Hermeneutic Circle | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter (TB) - - Gadamer, Hans-Georg. “The Elevation of the Historicality of Understanding to the Status of Hermeneutic Principle.” InThe Critical Tradition, pp. 721-37 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Configurative Reading | Iser, Wolfgang. “The Reading Process: A Phenomenological Approach.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 1002-14 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Idea of the Autonomous Artwork | Wimsatt, William K. and Monroe Beardsley. “The Intentional Fallacy.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 811-18 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The New Criticism and Other Western Formalisms | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Richards, Ivor A. and Monroe Beardsley. “Principles of Literary Criticism.” pp. 764-73 - - Brooks, Cleanth. “Irony as a Principle of Structure.” pp. 799-806 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Russian Formalism | Brooks, Cleanth. “Irony as a Principle of Structure.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 799-806 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Semiotics and Structuralism | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Levi-Strauss, Claude. “The Structural Study of Myth.” pp. 860-68 - - Barthes, Roland. “The Structuralist Activity.” pp. 775-84 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Linguistics and Literature | Jakobson, Roman. “Linguistics and Poetics.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 871-74 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Deconstruction I | Derrida, Jacques. “Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences” and “Différance.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 915-25 and pp. 932-39 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Deconstruction II | De Man, Paul. “Semiology and Rhetoric.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 882-92 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Freud and Fiction | Brooks, Peter. “Freud’s Masterplot” and “The Dream-Work.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 500-08 and pp. 882-92 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Jacques Lacan in Theory | Lacan, Jacques. “The Agency of the Letter in the Unconscious.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 1129-48 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Influence | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Eliot, T. S. “Tradition and the Individual Talent.” pp. 537-41 - - Bloom, Harold. “A Meditation upon Priority.” pp. 1156-60 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Postmodern Psyche | Žižek, Slavoj. “Courtly Love.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 1181-97 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Social Permeability of Reader and Text | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Jauss, Hans Robert. “Literary History as a Challenge to Literary Theory.” pp. 981-88 - - Bakhtin, Mikhail. “Heteroglossia in the Novel.” pp. 588-93 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Frankfurt School of Critical Theory | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” pp. 1233-48 - - Horkheimer, Max and Theodor Adorno. “The Culture Industry.” pp. 1255-62 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Political Unconscious | Jameson, Fredric. “The Political Unconscious.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 1291-1306 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The New Historicism | Greenblatt, Stephen. “The Power of Forms.” In The Critical Tradition, pp. 1443-45 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Classical Feminist Tradition | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Woolf, Virginia. “Austen-Brontë-Eliot” and “The Androgynous Vision.” pp. 602-10 - - Kolodny, Annette. “Dancing through the Minefield.” pp. 1550-62 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | African-American Criticism | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Gates, Jr., Henry Louis. “Writing, ‘Race,’ and the Difference It Makes.” pp. 1891-1902 - - Morrison, Toni. “Playing in the Dark.” pp. 1791-1800 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Post-Colonial Criticism | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Said, Edward. “Introduction to Orientalism.” pp. 1801-13 - - Bhabha, Homi K. “Signs Taken for Wonders.” pp. 1875-99 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Queer Theory and Gender Performativity | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Foucault, Michel. “The History of Sexuality.” pp. 1627-36 - - Butler, Judith. “Imitation and Gender Insubordination.” pp. 1707-18 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The Institutional Construction of Literary Study | - The Critical Tradition by David Richter - - Fish, Stanley. “How to Recognize a Poem When You See One.” pp. 1023-30 - - Guillory, John. “Cultural Capital.” pp. 1472-83 |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | The End of Theory?; Neo-Pragmatism | |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature | Reflections; Who Doesn't Hate Theory Now? | |
| Milton | Introduction: Milton, Power, and the Power of Milton | Complete poems and major prose by John Milton edited by Merritt Hughes |
| Milton | The Infant Cry of God | - “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity” (1629), pp. 42-50 - “At a Vacation Exercise in the College” (1628), pp. 30-32 - “On the Death of a Fair Infant” (1628), pp. 35-37 - Elegia sexta (1629), pp. 50-53 |
| Milton | Credible Employment | - Sonnet VII: "How soon hath Time" (1631), p 76 - Ad Patre (To His Father) (1632-37), pp 82-86 - The Reason of Church Government (1642), pp 665-71 - Sonnet XIX, "When I consider", (1652), p 168 |
| Milton | Poetry and Virginity | - Comus (A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle) (1634-37), pp. 86-114 - L’Allegro and Il Penseroso (1631), pp. 65-77 - “On Shakespeare” (1630), pp. 60-62 - An Apology for Smectymnuus (1642), pp. 690-95 - Sonnet IX: “Lady that in the prime” (1643), p. 141 - Prolusion VI, pp. 612-21 - Bible: Revelation 14:1-5 |
| Milton | Poetry and Marriage | - Re-read Comus, focusing on lines 778-805, 975-1010 (added in 1637 to published version) |
| Milton | Lycidas | - Lycidas (1637), pp. 116-25 - Manso (1638), pp. 127-30 - Epitaphium Damonis (1639-40), pp. 132-39 - Sonnet VIII: “When the Assault” (1642), p. 140 |
| Milton | Lycidas | - Lycidas (1637), pp. 116-25 - Re-read Reason of Church Government, pp. 665-71 - Sonnet XVI: “To the Lord General Cromwell” (1652), p. 160 - Sonnet XVII: “To Sir Henry Vane the Younger” (1652), p. 161 - Sonnet XVIII: “On the Late Massacre” (1655), p. 167 |
| Milton | Areopagitica | - Areopagitica (1644), pp. 716-49 - “On the New Forcers of Conscience” (1646), pp. 144-45 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Book I | - Paradise Lost (1667), Book I (esp. lines 1-49) - Note on “The Verse,” p. 210 - “At a Vacation Exercise” (1628), p. 30-32 - De Doctrina Christiana, pp. 900-902 |
| Milton | God and Mammon: The Wealth of Literary Memory | - Paradise Lost, Books I and II |
| Milton | The Miltonic Simile | - Re-read Paradise Lost, Books I and II, focusing on the similes |
| Milton | The Blind Prophet | - Paradise Lost, Book III (esp. lines 1-55) - Re-read Sonnet XIX: “When I consider” (1652), p. 168 - Psalm vi (Milton’s trans. of 1653), p. 165 - The Second Defense of the English People (1654), pp. 817-28 - Sonnet XXII: “To Mr Cyriack Skinner upon his Blindness” (1655), p. 170 - Sonnet XXIII: “Methought I saw” (1658), p. 170 - Samson Agonistes (1673), lines 68-101, pp. 553-54 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Book III | - Paradise Lost, Book III - De Doctrina Christiana, pp. 916-22; 932-49 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Book IV | - Paradise Lost, Book IV - The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (1643), pp. 702-15 - Ovid, Metamorphosis III. (Narcissus episode) |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Books V-VI | - Paradise Lost, Books V-VI - Psalm ii (Milton’s trans. of 1653), p. 162 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Books VII-VIII | - Paradise Lost, Books VII-VIII - On Christian Doctrine, pp. 973-82 - Bible: Genesis 1-3 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Book IX | - Paradise Lost, Book IX - Re-read Areopagitica (esp. pp. 727-29) - Bible: Genesis 3 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Books IX-X | - Paradise Lost, Books IX-X |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Books XI-XII | - Paradise Lost, Books XI-XII - On Christian Doctrine, pp. 982-90 - Bible: Genesis 4:11; 9 |
| Milton | Paradise Lost, Books XI-XII | - Paradise Lost, Books XI-XII (esp. lines 574-679) |
| Milton | Paradise Regained, Books I-II | - Paradise Regained (1671), Books I-II, p. 471 - Bible: -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Mark 1:1-13 -- Luke 4:1-14 |
| Milton | Paradise Regained, Books III-IV | - Paradise Regained, Books III-IV |
| Milton | Samson Agonistes | - Samson Agonistes (1671), p. 531 - Bible: Judges 13-16 |
| Milton | Samson Agonistes | - Note on “That Sort of Dramatic Poem Which is Call’d Tragedy,” pp. 549-50 - The Passion (1630), pp. 61-63 |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Fiction: Reading, Responding, Writing | |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | PLOT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | NARRATION AND POINT OF VIEW |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | CHARACTER |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | SETTING |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | SYMBOL |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | THEME |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | THE WHOLE TEXT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | THE AUTHOR'S WORK AS CONTEXT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | LITERARY KIND AS CONTEXT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | FORM AS CONTEXT: THE SHORT STORY |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | CRITICAL CONTEXTS: A FICTION CASEBOOK |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Evaluating Fiction | |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Poetry: Reading, Responding, Writing | READING |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Poetry: Reading, Responding, Writing | RESPONDING |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Poetry: Reading, Responding, Writing | WRITING ABOUT POEMS |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | TONE |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | SPEAKER: WHOSE VOICE DO WE HEAR |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | SITUATION AND SETTING: WHAT HAPPENS? WHERE? WHEN? |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | TIMES |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | PLACES |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | LANGUAGE: PERCECION AND AMBIGUITY |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | LANGUAGE: PICTURING |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | LANGUAGE: METAPHOR AND SIMILE |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | LANGUAGE: SYMBOL |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | THE SOUNDS OF POETRY |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | THE SOUNDS OF POETRY: WORDS AND MUSIC |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | INTERNAL STRUCTURE |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | EXTERNAL FORM: THE SONNET |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | EXTERNAL FORM: STANZA FORMS |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | EXTERNAL FORM: THE WAY A POEM LOOKS |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Understanding the Text | THE WHOLE TEXT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | THE AUTHOR'S WORK AS CONTEXT: JOHN KEATS |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | THE AUTHOR'S WORK IN CONTEXT: ADRIENNE RIC |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | LITERARY TRADITION AS CONTEXT: ECHO AND ALLUSION |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | LITERARY TRADITION AS CONTEXT: POETIC "KINDS" |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | LITERARY TRADITION AS CONTEXT: HAIKU |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | LITERARY TRADITION AS CONTEXT: IMITATING AND ANSWERING |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Exploring Contexts | CRITICAL CONTEXTS: A POETRY CASEBOOK |
| The Norton Introduction to Literature | Evaluating Poetry | |
