Literary genius can take innumerable shapes and forms through novels, plays, and poetry. Brilliant minds use their gifts to entertain, inspire, engage, and enlighten about philosophical and artistic concerns, social trappings, and human conceit. This course examines a selection of great minds each semester through a curated reading list that illuminates the particular brilliance of each individual featured author.
Students should read Medea by Euripides for the first class.
Students should read Medea by Euripides for the first class.
Fall 2026 Reading List:
Virgil, The Aeneid (Selections)
Li Qingzhao, Selected Poems
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a Dream
Tove Jansson, The Summer Book
Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
Spring 2027 Reading List:
Apollonius of Rhodes, The Argonautica (Selections)
Economou & Blackburn, Proensa: An Anthology of Troubadour Poetry
William Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost
Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote (Selections)
Nella Larsen, Passing
Laszlo Krasznahorkai, Seiobo There Below (Selections)
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0
You'll walk away with
- Increased cultural literacy
- Knowledge of major authors and texts
Ideal for
- The curious and creative
- Professionals who use critical thinking
Upcoming courses
Registration is recommended at least three weeks before the course start date.
Upcoming courses
Registration for this course is closed.