AJ2RC_AML2 British and American Literature Since 1945

Faculty of Education
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/0/24. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Irena Přibylová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Irena Přibylová, 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
AJ2RC_AML2/OS01: Fri 20. 2. 9:20–11:00 učebna 58, Fri 6. 3. 9:20–11:00 učebna 58, Fri 20. 3. 9:20–11:00 učebna 58, Fri 3. 4. 9:20–11:00 učebna 58, Fri 17. 4. 9:20–11:00 učebna 58, Fri 15. 5. 9:20–11:00 učebna 58, I. Přibylová
Prerequisites
AJ2RC_AML1
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
This course will be an introductory, but intensive survey of selected representative contemporary British and American writers and trends after 1945 to the present. We will focus on current most visible literary trends, and writers' responses to earlier traditions of realism, modernism and colonialism, exploring the techniques of narrative fiction, and non-fiction; we will also explore the themes the authors raise as they both acknowledge and contribute to the increasingly postcolonial and/or postmodern experience of British and American cultures. Cultural, historical, and theoretical context will be provided and discussed, while primary or secondary readings are to be utilized. Method of close reading would allow us to observe relevant themes and historical context. The seminar is based on active reading and analysis of selected extracts; other activities and discussions are encouraged.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to postmodernism and postcolonialism. Literature, lifestyle,ethnicity, gender, digitalization.
  • 2.American fiction, male writers.Kerouac, Vonnegut, Doctorow, DeLillo, McCarthy, and others.
  • 3. British fiction, male writers. Golding, Fowles,Swift, Ishiguro, Welsh, and others.
  • 4.The rise of women fiction.Jong, Byatt, Winterson, Carter, and others.
  • 5. Ethnic voices in the USA. Momaday, Silko, Kingston, Cisneros, Morrison, and others.
  • 6. The end of the Empire, postcolonial literature and diaspora.Gordimer, Rhys, Mo, Rushdie, Kureishi,Ishiguo, and others.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ALEXANDER, Michael. A history of English literature. 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013, xx, 443. ISBN 9780230368316. info
  • SANDERS, Andrew. The short Oxford history of English literature. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, vii, 756. ISBN 9780199263387. info
  • An outline of English literature. Edited by Pat Rogers. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, xiii, 501. ISBN 0192880780. info
  • The Columbia history of the American novel. Edited by Emory Elliott - Cathy N. Davidson. New York: Columbia University, 1991, xviii, 905. ISBN 0-231-07360-7. info
  • The Heath anthology of American literature. Edited by Paul Lauter. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath, 1990, xxxix, 261. ISBN 0-669-12065-0. info
Teaching methods
Discussion based seminar, that requires active home reading and writing of three one-page critical response papers. These activities allow students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in literary, cultural and language fields of study that build upon students' general secondary education. More so, students are to develop their ability to gather and interpret relevant data, to form judgements that include reflection on relevant literary, social, or ethical issues; students practice to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Last but not least students are to develop learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.
Assessment methods
ourse requirements: 1) 80% attendance (if you miss more than two classes, then you have to work on reading journals for each class missed) 2) Read the material assigned in the syllabus, primary and secondary, respond in discussions and selected short papers 3) Prepare and give a structured presentation on a selected novel 4) Discuss selected issues and features at an exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2015, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2015/AJ2RC_AML2