Reading Fiction
Reading Fiction is an MIT OpenCourseWare literature course built around the theme of the city in literature. Short stories and novels serve as the material for learning how structure, narrative voice, character development, novelistic experimentation, historical and political context, and reader response shape interpretation. The course includes a syllabus, reading assignments, and writing exercises drawn from MIT's original undergraduate offering, letting students work through the same texts and analytical questions assigned on campus. It suits anyone wanting a structured introduction to close reading and literary analysis rather than casual book discussion. Materials are freely available online for self-study, with no instructor feedback or certificate attached, since MIT OpenCourseWare publishes course content rather than running live sessions.