Literature and Coping Skills Course | Build Resilience with Prof. Ajit K Mishra
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 136 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Literature and Coping Skills: How Stories and Poems Build Resilience
In an era marked by unprecedented stress and uncertainty, the quest for effective coping mechanisms is more critical than ever. While traditional psychology offers vital tools, an unexpected yet profoundly powerful resource lies in the world of literature. The course Literature and Coping Skills, designed and taught by Prof. Ajit K Mishra of IIT(BHU) Varanasi, bridges this gap, offering a unique exploration of how literary experience can forge strong coping strategies and resilience.
About the Instructor: Prof. Ajit K Mishra
With fifteen years of experience teaching English Literature and Language, Prof. Mishra is a pioneer in applying literary studies to personal and professional development. His personal engagement with literature as a medium of communication and simulation led him to explore its therapeutic potential. He is the architect of several innovative courses like Leadership through Literature, Literature and Crisis Management, and Literature and Decision Making, all designed to disseminate the transformational power of words. His expertise also extends to training researchers in communication strategies, making him uniquely qualified to guide learners in harnessing literature for emotional strength.
Course Overview: An 8-Week Journey to Resilience
This 8-week undergraduate/postgraduate level course operates on a compelling premise: that the moments of disarray in our lives challenge us to either disappear into the dark or fight our way back. The "point of return," as the course describes, lies in our mind, will, and negotiations. Through poetic communication engaging mind, body, and spirit, learners embark on a path of personal growth to overcome fear, anxiety, depression, trauma, and heartbreak.
Intended Audience: This course is invaluable for students across disciplines—Engineering, Medical Science, Management, English, Psychology, Biological Sciences, and Medicine. Its interdisciplinary approach makes it accessible and beneficial to anyone with an interest in literature and personal psychology.
Industries Support: Any organization that values employees with strong coping skills, emotional intelligence, and resilience will recognize the merit of this course, making it a significant asset for career development.
Weekly Course Layout: A Thematic Deep Dive
| Week | Theme | Key Topics & Literary Works |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | The Power of Literary Experience | Existential concerns, Emotional wellbeing, Personality, Simulation, Empathy. Works by Bhartrihari and Tagore. |
| Week 2 | Poetry and Healing | Poetry therapy, Verbal imagery, Rhetoric and prosody. Works by Max Ehrmann and Danna Faulds. |
| Week 3 | Conquering Fear | Psychology of fear and anxiety. Analysis of John Donne's "Death be not Proud" and Robert Frost's "The Road not Taken". |
| Week 4 | Defeating Depression | Understanding feeling "weird" and losing touch. Studies of Tennyson's "Break, Break, Break" and Keats's "Ode on Melancholy". |
| Week 5 | Negotiating Trauma | Examining unclaimed experiences. Powerful readings of Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" and Elizabeth Murphy's "The Night That Changed Everything". |
| Week 6 | Overcoming Heartbreak | Exploring love, heartbreak, and healing through Robert Browning's "The Last Ride Together" and Derek Walcott's "The Fist". |
| Week 7 | Taming Substance Abuse | The culture of escape analyzed via Charles Baudelaire's "Be Drunk" and Charles Bukowski's "The Suicide Kid". |
| Week 8 | Beating Eating Disorder | Mimetic desire and the body through Carol Ann Duffy's "The Diet" and Marty McConnell's "Instructions for a Body". |
Core Textbooks and Resources
The course is grounded in seminal texts that blend literary theory, psychology, and therapy. Key books include:
- Poetry Therapy: Theory and Practice by Nicholas Mazza
- The Reader, the Text, the Poem: A Transactional Theory by Louise Rosenblatt
- Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson
- Being True to Life: Poetic Paths to Personal Growth by David Richo
- The Prosody Handbook: A Guide to Poetic Form by Robert Beum and Karl Shapiro
These resources provide the theoretical backbone for understanding how literature functions as a transactional, healing experience.
Why This Course Matters Now
"Literature and Coping Skills" is not merely an academic exercise; it is a practical toolkit for modern life. By engaging with universal themes of doubt, grief, love, pain, and recovery, learners do not just analyze texts—they simulate experiences, build empathy, and develop higher-order thinking. This process allows them to:
- Reframe personal challenges through the lens of artistic expression.
- Develop a vocabulary for complex emotions.
- Find solace and strength in the shared human experience documented across centuries of literature.
- Cultivate resilience by witnessing how literary characters and voices navigate crisis.
In essence, Prof. Mishra's course teaches that within the pages of a poem or the arc of a story lie powerful strategies for not just surviving, but gracefully embracing the lessons of a challenging life. It is an invitation to discover the beauty in everyday resilience, guided by the enduring power of words.
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