Dutch literature: introduction to the literature [ LGERM1134 ]

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This course is open to first year-students who followed the language courses during the first semester.

Emphasis is placed on the critical reading and analysis of modern and contemporary literary texts. Various literary genres are studied : poetry, novels, short stories, theater.

Students are introduced to the main concepts, techniques and tools of literary criticism necessary in the study of scholarly texts.

The course introduces students to the core concepts of classical and postclassical narratology, the theory of literary genres and close textual readings of literary texts. Several aspects of literature, its effects (rhetorical, ethical, esthetic, etc.), its positioning (institutional, cultural, political) or its functions (place of memory, cognition, knowledge, etc.) are highlighted and illustrated by canonical texts.

An analysis of some chosen literary works will be presented based on current research methods

By the end of this course, students

- will have acquired the basic concepts and methods of literary research and analysis through critical reading of mainly modern and contemporary canonical texts ;
- will be able to identify and describe various scholarly methods of critical reading and study of literature ;
- will be able to analyze, interpret and comment on a poem, a short story, a novel and/or a play using a scholarly method ;
- will demonstrate their knowledge of basic literary vocabulary and terminology in Dutch studies.

Continuous assessment (participation in class; open questions; exercises).

Certificative assessment: written and oral exam + personal reading. The quality of personal expression and command of the written language are crucial.

Theoretical introduction to the main concepts of literary theory and criticism and to the tools of literary analysis.

Students are exposed during the class to the complexities of literature (confrontation, problematization of some core aspects of literary texts and literariness); close-reading analysis (with reference to secondary sources) for some chosen literary works. Students are expected to do the required readings before class. If necessary, they receive open questions to orient their reading and analysis.

Elaboration, in interaction with the teacher, of a personal analysis where we experiment with the text's virtualities, confront and evaluate the reading methods and question their validity.

Students should be ready to participate fully in the discussions.

The course includes 10 hours of tutorial (seminar sessions) to help students.

This course presents several scholarly approaches to the reading of literary texts and critical paradigms in the humanities (history of literature, sociology, (post)structuralism, psychoanalysis, intertextuality, reception theories, narratology, stylistics, pragmatics, genetic criticism, comparatism, imagology, postcolonial studies, etc.). The course provides students with the main methodological concepts and tools of literary theory needed to approach the variety in literary texts, according to their socio-cultural or political context, their language register, their position in the literary and cultural fields, their ethical positioning, etc. For plurality's sake, this course adopts an inter- and pluridisciplinary approach. Some canonical contemporary works are analyzed in depth.

- L. Duyvendak & B. van Heusden, Literaire cultuur. Casusboek. Nijmegen: Sun, 2001.

- J. van Luxemburg, M. Bal, W. G. Weststeijn, Over literatuur. Bussum: Coutinho, 1999.

- F. W. Korsten, Lessen in literatuur. Nijmegen: Vantilt, 2002 (2de druk 2005).

- E. van Boven & G. Dorleijn, Literair mechaniek. Bussum: Coutinho, 1999.

Teaching materials :
Reader, anthology of chosen literary works, handbooks, syllabi or handouts, documents on i-campus