I. Course Description: This course is designed to acquaint doctoral students with fundamental scientific thinking and methodological approaches relevant to Western literature. Its contents includes both modern and medieval literature. This course attempts to cover some general and well-accepted criticism methods / theories, and to pay special attention to the fields of literary geography and literary cartography. Through critical analyzing of existing theories, Western literature works, historical materials and in-class discussion, students will be expected to have a deep understanding of Western literature criticism. II. Objectives: To enable students to grasp basic theories and research methodology of western literature; to enable students to research Western literature with the latest theories and approaches; to familiarize students with the academic principles and scientific attitude.