UCL - English literature: in-depth study of a literary movement

[GERM2726]

[15h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 1st semester.

Teacher(s): Véronique Bragard

Language: English

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

Students will be expected to show their ability to relate texts that illustrate one or more literary currents to the historical and literary contexts explored in the course. They will have to produce an analysis that demonstrates their familiarity with the issues raised by the course, and with the poetics through which those issues are expressed.

The module is also indirectly meant to increase the students' lexical skills. Their analyses will therefore have to reflect a command of the English language that corresponds to their level (Masters), as well as a good grasp of the various cultural concepts discussed in the course.

Main themes

This course will offer a survey of Commonwealth literatures through the analysis of several representative works from distinct geographical/cultural areas and historical periods. It will examine the works of major postcolonial authors such as Salman Rushdie, V.S. Naipaul, Nadine Gordimer or Derek Walcott. This course also includes the showing and discussion of adaptations for film and/or television. All the texts are read and prepared at home by the students.

Content and teaching methods

Postmodernisms

This course will offer students an opportunity to analyze postmodern fiction in a comparative framework. Characterized, among others, by intertextuality, metafiction, fragmentation, the blend of high and low culture and pluralism, postmodernism remains a key literary movement. This class will first contextualize the postmodern cultural phenomenon (in Great-Britain and the U.S.) and then examine 4 postmodern texts: Slade & Toni Morrisons The Ant or the Grasshopper (graphic novel), John Fowless The French Lieutenants Woman, Michael Cunninghams The Hours and Art Spiegelmans Maus (graphic novel). Students will prepare readings and questions prior to class time to encourage discussion. This course also includes references to cinematic artistic productions.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisites : an introductory knowledge of English literature and a good proficiency in English (advanced level, B2 + in terms of the Common European reference framework).

Evaluation : Oral and/or written exam. When the course is organised as a seminar, active participation (oral presentation, discussions, term paper) is taken into account.

Teaching material : Secondary literature linked to the topic of the course. Reading of the selected literary works and of critical studies.