A revised English curriculum, based upon different kinds of literary criticism, is counseled in this two-part paper. Part 1 identifies four kinds of criticism--formalist, synoptic, extrinsic, and stylistic. A conventional English Curriculum is briefly outlined. Curricular theories are discussed and positive and negative attempts to define literature are made. A case is made for basing the curriculum on criticism. Part 2 advances four postulates--the communication of knowledge about literature, a theory of relations between criticism and literature, acceptance of the literary work as the isolated atom to receive critical attention, and curriculum order derived from a theory of the learning process. Considerable attention is devoted to an outline of a four-year program based on these postulates. The program sequence is formalist (freshman year), synoptic (sophomore), analogical and generic (junior), and synthesizing (senior). (AF)