AJ2RC_UVLI Introduction to Literature

Faculty of Education
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0/12. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Hana Waisserová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Irena Přibylová, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Prerequisites
It is expected the students are acquainted with basic literary theory and practice, required at the Maturita level.
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
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with basic literary theory and and teach them how to use its tools in reading and analysis. The starting point will be provided by activities related to the definition of literature and the process and practice of reading. We will then proceed to more technical and practical instruments of literary theory, which assist better understanding and greater enjoyment of reading. Effective reading and writing skills would be treated as well (as such those involve drafting, rethinking, reshaping, reflecting, and rewriting). Students are expected to read and reflect on assigned readings, and will be assigned with a series of short informal assignments that develop ideas, reflect on and critique the selected texts.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: mapping the territory. 2. What is literature? 3. Literature, its nature and function 4. Literary communication - ways of reading; the reader, the author and the literary work 5. Narrative and character - the story vs. narration, types of character 6. Narrative and point of view 7. Rhythm and sound patterning 8. Figures of speech: metaphor, simile, metonymy, synecdoche, irony 9. Juxtaposition, allusion, intertextuality. Repetition and parallelism. 10. Genres and style. Some literary terms. 11. A brief history of anglophone literary criticism
Literature
  • Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1984
  • Wellek, René, Austin, Warren. Teorie literatury. Olomouc: Votobia, 1996. (Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. London, 1949.)
  • Cuddon, J.A. Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms. Penguin Group, London: Penguin Books, 1991 (1977), ISBN 0-14-051227-6
Teaching methods
discussion based seminar
Assessment methods
PLEASE NOTE: The course is hands-on, based on activities rather than lecturing. You are expected to work both for and in the sessions. Evaluation: in-class activities, response papers, mood-link-a, written test. The test will be based on the range of topics discussed in the lectures.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
http://moodlinka.ped.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=536
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2011/AJ2RC_UVLI