CRW 3110 - Spring 2026 - Ezeano

This course explores the emotional architecture of fiction; it examines how feelings function as the driving force behind narratives. We will discover how stories are shaped by nonlinguistic effects—feelings, tempers, and ambiances. This means that we are digging into fiction beyond its conventional elements like dialogue and plotting. We will trace ten distinct emotions across a variety of global fiction and explore how forms and affects intertwine to create meaning. In addition to reading, we will also write stories that reflect these emotional dynamics.

Tuesdays will be dedicated to the discussions and analysis of texts and theories. Thursdays will shift focus to a workshop-style format where students will present and critique their stories, allowing for collaborative exploration of how the emotion and narrative techniques studied manifest in their own writings. Through this balance of theory, analysis, and creative practice, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the emotional dimensions of fiction and how to weave them into their own work.

Key Topics:


• Emotions and Storytelling: The conscious creation of feelings in stories. 
 
• Language Choices: The impacts of rhythm and word choices on affective tone.

• Plot: How narrative perspective shapes emotional experiences.
• Conflict: The tension between affect and rationality in fiction.