ENG248
CONTEMPORARY LITERARY THEORY
Also listed under 3 other titles
- Contemporary Literary Theory
- CONTEMP LIT THEORY
- CONTEMP LITERARY THEORY
- Department
- English
- Terms offered
- 29
- Data refreshed
- Sep 29, 2026
Description
Investigates and develops several theoretical approaches to literature in the late-20th and 21st century, attempting to provide glimpses into the range of theoretical issues and concerns. We look particularly at identity formation in contemporary literary, political, economic, cultural and social arenas. May also look at a literary text in relation to theory. General areas of study are selected from among the following: textual criticism, new criticism, psychoanalysis/reader response, structuralism, poststructuralism, feminism, postcolonialism, postmodernism, gay and lesbian theory and Cultural Studies. For English majors, this course satisfies the E (Theory) requirement. For English minors, this course can count either as a seminar in Theory or as a 200-level English seminar, but it cannot double count for the two requirements.
Syllabi
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Offering history & forecast 2016–2026
1995 2026
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer | Intersession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2030 Fall: 16% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 2 of 9 fall terms since 2018. | 2030 Spring: 28% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 5 of 9 spring terms since 2018. Department course count falling about 10% per year. Department faculty is about 35% below its recent average. | 2030 Summer: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 summer terms since 2018. | 2030 Intersession: 8% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 6 intersession terms since 2020. |
| 2029 | 2029 Fall: 18% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 3 of 10 fall terms since 2017. | 2029 Spring: 31% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 6 of 10 spring terms since 2017. Department course count falling about 9% per year. Department faculty is about 38% below its recent average. | 2029 Summer: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 summer terms since 2017. | 2029 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2028 | 2028 Fall: 18% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 3 of 11 fall terms since 2016. | 2028 Spring: 32% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 6 of 11 spring terms since 2016. Department course count falling about 9% per year. Department faculty is about 39% below its recent average. | 2028 Summer: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 summer terms since 2016. | 2028 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2027 | 2027 Fall: 20% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 4 of 12 fall terms since 2015. | 2027 Spring: 33% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 6 of 12 spring terms since 2015. Department course count falling about 7% per year. Department faculty is about 39% below its recent average. | 2027 Summer: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 summer terms since 2015. | 2027 Intersession: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2026 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | No data for this term |
| 2025 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2024 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2023 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2022 | 1 section | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2021 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2020 | 1 section | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2019 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | No data for this term |
| 2018 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | No data for this term |
| 2017 | 1 section | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2016 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | No data for this term |
Forecast Under 15% 15–39% 40–69% 70–89% 90%+ Not enough history
Fall Spring Summer Intersession Darker means more sections Not offered No data for term
Future estimates combine recent offering frequency with detected multi-year cycles. Hover a cell for confidence and evidence; low-confidence estimates are marked with ~.
Meeting times
Most recent first- Tue, Thu, 4:15 PM–5:30 PM Geography Building G104 2026
- Mon, Wed, 4:15 PM–5:30 PM JC220 2025
- Mon, 2:50 PM–5:50 PM ES303 201520122011201020092008 +3 more Also offered in Fall 2007, Fall 2006, Fall 2005
- Mon, 2:50 PM–5:50 PM Anderson House, English Dept LEIR I 2005
- Fri, 1:25 PM–4:25 PM Anderson House, English Dept LEIR I 2004
- Mon, 2:25 PM–5:25 PM Anderson House, English Dept LEIR II 2002
- Wed, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM 138 Woodland St. 20021998199719961995
- Mon, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM Anderson House, English Dept ENGII 2000
| Term | Professor | Type | Credits | Enrollment | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Stephen M. Levin | Lecture | 1 | 10 of 16 enrolled | 33690 |
| Spring 2025 | Stephen M. Levin | Lecture | 1 | 16 of 20 enrolled | 33690 |
| Fall 2022 | Stephen M. Levin | Lecture | 1 | 8 of 16 enrolled | 21825 |
| Spring 2022 | Stephen M. Levin | Lecture | 1 | 7 of 20 enrolled | 31790 |
| Fall 2020 | James P. Elliott | Online | 1 | 13 of 20 enrolled | 27938 |
| Spring 2020 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 9 of 20 enrolled | 37150 |
| Spring 2019 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 4 of 20 enrolled | 37150 |
| Fall 2017 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 17 enrolled | 25898 |
| Spring 2017 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 18 of 20 enrolled | 35671 |
| Fall 2015 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 20 of 16 enrolled | 20139 |
| Fall 2014 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 16 of 17 enrolled | 20139 |
| Fall 2013 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 16 of 17 enrolled | 20139 |
| Fall 2012 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 17 of 17 enrolled | 20139 |
| Fall 2011 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 21 of 20 enrolled | 20139 |
| Fall 2010 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 18 of 20 enrolled | 27151 |
| Fall 2009 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 17 of 20 enrolled | 23126 |
| Fall 2008 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 13 of 20 enrolled | 23126 |
| Fall 2007 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 17 of 20 enrolled | 23126 |
| Fall 2006 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 20 enrolled | 23126 |
| Fall 2005 | James P. Elliott | Lecture | 1 | 17 of 20 enrolled | 23126 |
| Spring 2005 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 15 of 20 enrolled | 31408 |
| Spring 2004 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 6 of 20 enrolled | 31408 |
| Fall 2002 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 15 of 20 enrolled | 26432 |
| Spring 2002 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 20 of 20 enrolled | 36123 |
| Fall 2000 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 20 of 20 enrolled | 24658 |
| Fall 1998 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 28 of 20 enrolled | 20154 |
| Fall 1997 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 11 of 15 enrolled | 20154 |
| Fall 1996 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 6 of 20 enrolled | 20154 |
| Fall 1995 | James P. Elliott | Seminar/Proseminar | 1 | 9 of 20 enrolled | 20154 |