Describes the focus of a freshman literature course: understanding literary meaning, analyzing literary form, and exploring literary value with each of the three one-quarter classes drawing on the resources of a major area within current literary studies, such as hermeneutics (meaning), poetics (form), and criticism (evaluation). (EL)

Considers the ramifications of four basic issues that must be resolved in K-12 literary education programs. Points out that teachers of literature need to join current efforts to seek quality in the English curriculum by examining again the content of their programs as well as the methods used to teach. (EL)