CRW 3110 - Spring 2026 - Ezeano

This course explores the emotional architecture of fiction, examining how feelings function as the driving force behind narratives. Throughout the semester, we will survey how characters are shaped by and interact with nonlinguistic elements such as mood and intangible emotions. 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. By doing so, we will explore the ways in which form and affect intertwine to create meaning.

Drawing on a diverse range of texts from Nigerian, American, and European writers, we will uncover how emotions are structured, disrupted, and amplified within storytelling.

In addition to reading, students will be tasked with writing stories that reflect these emotional dynamics. Mondays will be dedicated to exploring texts and theory, offering a blend of discussion, analysis, and theoretical frameworks. Wednesdays 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 writing. 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.