Literary History
About the course
This course is intended for students in the master's programme in English literature and students in the master's programme in education year 8-13 (lektorutdanninga, studieretning engelsk, jf. progresjonskrav for år 4).
This course fulfils the Period Studies requirement for the master's programme in English Literature.
The course may be taken as a single course by students who meet the admission requirements.
This course explores the relationships between literature and history and connects the theorization of these relationships to important societal shifts portrayed in literature. We will ask, as Geoffrey Hartman puts it, "How do we ground art in history without denying its autonomy?" and examine the many ways that authors and scholars have approached this question.
Particular emphasis will be placed on literature´s ability to challenge a period´s socio-cultural norms, with thematic foci including the representations of oppressed cultures, the portrayal of outsider or criminal characters, and the representation of effective social change.
Admission requirements
A bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), or equivalent qualification, in English literature, or a degree combining English literature and a closely related discipline (minimum 80 ECTS in English).
A minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale, see UiT's webpage for international admissions for more information on how the point average is calculated.
Application code: 9371 - Enkeltemner på masternivå (Nordic applicants).
Objectives of the course
The students have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The student has:
- a comprehensive grasp of the historical relationships among primary texts of the course and between each text and its historical context
- strong theoretical understanding of approaches to literature that attend to cultural and political contexts and socio-economic conditions
- a thorough knowledge of the social functions that literature has been seen to fulfill, focusing particularly on its ability to challenge social norms
Skills
The student can:
- analyze primary and secondary texts and discern connections among them
- think critically about literature´s representation of social change
- use relevant theoretical approaches to achieve independent insights about individual texts
- communicate effectively both orally and in writing about the literature and criticism they have read
Teaching methods
Language of instruction and examination
English.Schedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
Information to incoming exchange students
This course is open for inbound exchange students who fulfill the admission requirements.
Do you have questions about this course? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412
Examination
| Assignment |
Grade: A–E, fail F |
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| Written papers | Grade: Approved – not approved |
Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage