EN-455 Literary Theory & Analysis
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Humanities and Education
- Course Leader:
- Charles Ivan Armstrong
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Advanced Teacher Education level 8-13, 5-year Master's Programme
- Translation and Professional Communication, Master's programme
- Master's Programme in English
Teaching language
EnglishCourse contents
This course is a key preparatory course for independent work on master's theses and consists of two parts. The main part, roughly 75%, provides an introduction to a variety of modes of critical interrogation that have come to be called "theory". The course will also examine the relations among theory, literary criticism, and the humanities. Students may for the second part, roughly 25%, choose between alternatives A and B. Alternative A provides a continued focus on literary theory and literary criticism, but as applied to practical challenges of literary analysis and/or researching and writing a literary master’s thesis. Alternative B provides an introduction to theories and methods in literature and culture studies and didactics.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: upon successful completion of this course students are able to
-
understand significant developments within literary theory in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
-
understand ways in which meaning in literary works depends on critical approaches
-
understand the processes and results of literary analysis from different theoretical perspectives
-
understand ways in which theoretical perspectives may be critically applied and incorporated in the writing of literary master’s theses (cf. alternative A)
-
understand principles of didactic research methods in literature-, civilization- and cultural studies (cf. alternative B)
Skills: upon successful completion of this course students are able to
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apply concepts from literary theory and literary criticism in the analysis and interpretation of texts
-
locate critical literature of various kinds and evaluate and use such material in the interpretation of literary texts
-
add theoretical insight to the literary analysis in their master’s theses
-
critically select and apply theoretical perspectives relevant for their master’s theses
Examination requirements
Students must complete and pass one compulsory essay (ca. 1000 words).
Teaching methods
Seminars. Active and regular participation is expected. The estimated workload is approximately 270 hours.
Evaluation
The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.
Admission for external candidates
No.
Offered as Single Standing Module
Yes, if there are places available.
Admission Requirement if given as Single Standing Module
Same admission requirements apply as for the master's programme in English.
Assessment methods and criteria
4-hour written examination. Students are allowed to use an English-English dictionary on the exam. Graded assessment.
Reduction of Credits
This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:
Course | Reduction of Credits |
---|---|
EN-410 – Literary Theory | 7.5 |