Prospectus

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Literature 1A: Introduction to Literary Studies in English

Course
2014-2015

Admission requirements

None.

Description

During this course students (of English) will learn the basic skills necessary for the study of (English-language) literature. The student will learn how to analyse poetry, prose and drama by studying works from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. The focus will lie on the structural and stylitic elements of works of literature as well as their cultural and historical contexts. By doing several writing assignments students will take the first stepts towards writing literary-critical essays.

Course objectives

By the end of the course students will

  • have knowledge of key structural and stylistic aspects of poetry, drama and prose fiction.

  • be able to apply key literary terms in their critical reading of literary texts.

  • be able to independently formulate literary-critical questions.

  • be able to express their critical judgement in clear and well-structured language.

Timetable

The timetable will be available by June 1st on the website

Mode of instruction

  • Lectures

  • Seminars

  • Self-motivated sudy of assigned reading

Course Load

The course load fort his course is 280 hours.

  • 13 hours of lectures

  • 26 hours of tutorials

  • 195 hours of reading (approximately 15 hours per week, but some weeks more than others)

  • 30 hours exam preperation (revision)

  • 16 hours for the writing assignments

  • These are approximate calculations only. Some students will read quicker and write slower and vice vesra

Assessment method

  • Three short written assignments, of which only the last is graded; minimum grade: 5 (20%).

  • A mid-term exam during the exam week in October; minimum grade: 5 (30%).

  • An end-of-term exam during the exam week in December; minimum grade: 5 (50%).

The final grade is determined by calculating the average grade for the above-mentioned assignment and exams, which is rounded to the nearest half. A final grade below 5,5 (also 5,49) is insufficient. Only when the final grade is insufficient can students resit exam(s) and/or assignments that received a grade below 5,5 in January 2015. The resit grade will replace the original grade.

Attendance is compulsory. Unauthorized absence will mean that you cannot take part in the relevant exam(s).

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used to provide students with an overview of current affairs, as well as specific information about (components of) the course.

Reading list

  • Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey (Penguin)

  • Greenblatt, Stephen, et al (eds.). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 9th edition, Vol. I and II (Norton) [NOTE: do NOT buy the abridged “Major Authors” edition of the Norton Anthology].

  • Hamilton, Sharon. Essential Literary Terms (Norton)

  • Hitchcock (dir), Rear Window (DVD)

  • James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw and the Aspern Papers (Penguin)

  • O’Connor, Flannery. Wise Blood (faber and faber)

Registration

Students cannot register through uSis, but must see the coordinator of studies and register with her. If you have any questions, please contact the departmental office, tel. 071 5272144 or mail: english@hum.leidenuniv.nl.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Registration Studeren à la carte
Registration Contractonderwijs

Contact details

English Language and Culture student administration, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102C. Tel. 071 5272144; english@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
Coordinator of studies: Ms T.D. Obbens, MA, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 103C.

Remarks

The reading for week 1 will be posted on Blackboard before the start of the course.