AJ1301 British History, Culture and Literature I

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2018
Extent and Intensity
0/3/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zdeněk Janík, M.A., Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jiří Šalamoun, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ1301/Kombi01: Fri 21. 9. 8:00–10:50 učebna 10, Fri 12. 10. 8:00–10:50 učebna 10, Fri 26. 10. 8:00–10:50 učebna 10, Fri 9. 11. 8:00–10:50 učebna 10, Fri 23. 11. 8:00–10:50 učebna 10, Fri 7. 12. 8:00–10:50 učebna 10, Z. Janík, J. Šalamoun
AJ1301/Prez01: Mon 15:00–17:50 učebna 56, Z. Janík, J. Šalamoun
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ1102 Practical Language 1B
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Students are introduced to history, literature and culture of Great Britain from the period of Roman Britain to the end of the 18th Century. The goal is to introduce important authors, literary movements, historical events and cultural context of the given period and analyze their interrelation. Students will understand how literary texts reflect historical events and cultural myths. They will learn to identify cultural values and interpret them with the purpose to enhance respect to otherness. Students will discuss the role of context, gender, race, and ethnicity in history and in forming of literary genres and topics.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1) identify and describe major trends in British literature and understand their relationship to British society and culture
2) develop your skills in analytical reading and proposal writing
3) research, prepare, and hand in a proposal for an academic paper
4) understand and frame literary works as a form of social commentary which responds to specific historical occurrences
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to British History and Culture 2. Britain from the Roman Occupation to Anglo-Saxon Period: the cult of warrior, Alfred the Great, Beowulf 3. The Medieval England and the Ideals of Chivalry: Feudalism and Arthurian Legends (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight) 4. Religious Reform and Piers Plowman´s dream vision 5. From the Middle Ages to Renaissance: Geoffrey Chaucer and the Tudors 6. The World as Stage: English Reformation and Renaissance Theater 7. William Shakespeare 8. Golden Age of Queen Elizabeth: Rise of English Empire and Renaissance Poetry 9. Jacobite Period and Colonization of America. John Donne and Metaphysical Poets 10. From Monarchy to Republic and Back: Religious schisms of the 17th Century. John Milton and Paradise Lost 11. Classicism and Enlightenment: Rise of English Novel (Daniel Defoe) 12. The Rise of Middle Class and Lawrence Sterne
Literature
    required literature
  • ALEXANDER, Michael. A history of English literature. 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013, xx, 443. ISBN 9780230368316. info
  • EAGLE, Dorothy. The Oxford illustrated literary guide to Great Britain and Ireland. Edited by Hilary Carnell - Meic Stephens. 2nd ed. / edited by Dorothy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992, vi, 322 p. ISBN 0-19-212988-025. info
    recommended literature
  • The Oxford illustrated history of Britain. Edited by Kenneth O. Morgan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, 683 stran. ISBN 9780199544752. info
  • SANDERS, Andrew. The short Oxford history of English literature. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, vii, 756. ISBN 9780199263387. info
  • STŘÍBRNÝ, Zdeněk. Dějiny anglické literatury. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1987, 414 s. info
Teaching methods
class discussion, on-line discussion, fora participation
Assessment methods
Literature part:
Participation in collaborative learning and discussion based activities (26%)
Think & reflect in-class papers (20%)
Short in-class presentation on recent articles/videos related to readings (10%)
Research project (44%).

Culture and social part:
Complete 6 short quizzes, take part in 2 online discussions, add historical perspective to the research project.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinované studium: výuka v blocích.
Teacher's information
http://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=2785#section-5
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/autumn2018/AJ1301