AJ16049 Reading British History

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2016
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Alžběta Rubinatti (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 14:10–15:45 L31
Prerequisites
AJ01002 Practical English II
The aim of the course is exploring and understanding four periods of British literature and their defining texts. The four chosen works are among the most important texts of British culture: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, King James Bible, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. What socio-political currents enabled the creation of these famous texts and how did these works of art, subsequently, influence society and shape British culture? The course is divided into 4 sections, each consisting of three weekly sessions. In each section we examine the text itself; the background and history of the author; the social, political, and economic context of the work’s creation, publication and reception; and the role of the text in British history. Each session consists of a lecture by the teacher, and a presentation by a group of students who also chair the following discussion. The course assessment is based on each student’s participation in discussions of weekly compulsory readings (30%), the quality of analysis and presentation of various texts/topics (30%), and the final essay (40%).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Syllabus
  • Section 1: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (1478)→ Session 1.1: Political, Social and Economic Background Compulsory Reading: “The Beginnings of English” from The Routledge History of Literature in English “The World is Changed and Overthrown” from The English and Their History by Robert Tombs→ Session 1.2: The Author – The Life and Work of Geoffrey Chaucer Compulsory Reading: “Introduction” from Nevill Coghill, from Canterbury Tales “Chaucer” (listening, 60 min) BBC panel discussion chaired by Melvyn Bragg, available here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003hycq → Session 1.3: The Text Itself – The Canterbury Tales Compulsory Reading: “The Knight’s Tale” from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer “The Physician’s Tale” from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer “The Monk’s Tale” from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer →Section 3: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) →Session 3.1: Political, Social and Economic Background Compulsory Reading: “The First Industrial Nation” from The English and Their History by Robert Tombs “Frankenstein, feminism, and literary theory” by Diane Long Hoeveler, from The Cambridge Companion to Mary Shelley →Session 3.2: The Author – The Life and Work of Mary Shelley Compulsory Reading: “Frankenstein, Matilda, and the legacies of Godwin and Wollstonecraft” by Pamela Clemit, from The Cambridge Companion to Mary Shelley →Session 3.3: The Text Itself – Frankenstein Compulsory Reading: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley →Section 4: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949) →Session 4.1: Political, Social and Economic Background Compulsory Reading: “Nineteen Eighty-Four: context and controversy” by Bernard Crick, from The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell →Session 4.2: The Author – The Life and Work of George Orwell Compulsory Reading: “A political writer” by John Rossi and John Rodden, from The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell →Session 4.3: The Text Itself – Nineteen Eighty-Four Compulsory Reading: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
Assessment methods
The course assessment is based on each student’s participation in discussions of weekly compulsory readings (30%), the quality of analysis and presentation of texts/topics (30%), and the final essay (40%).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
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