AJL04100 Introduction to Literary Studies I

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Stephen Paul Hardy, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martina Horáková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Michael Matthew Kaylor, PhD. (lecturer)
PhDr. Filip Krajník, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Jeffrey Alan Smith, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lucie Altmannová (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Mohamed Hajjaj (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martina Horáková, Ph.D.
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
each even Tuesday 16:00–17:40 B2.13
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
AJL04100/01: each odd Monday 16:00–17:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11., L. Altmannová
AJL04100/02: each odd Thursday 8:00–9:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11.
AJL04100/03: each odd Monday 8:00–9:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11., M. Kaylor
AJL04100/04: each odd Tuesday 10:00–11:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11., M. Hajjaj
AJL04100/05: each odd Monday 14:00–15:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11., M. Kaylor
AJL04100/06: each odd Tuesday 12:00–13:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11., F. Krajník
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 200 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 107/200, only registered: 7/200
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Course description: This course consists of lectures (related to seminars in AJ04001) that encourage students to engage in literary research and analysis. The lectures provide students with an introduction to literary histories, movements, contexts and approaches to literary texts. The related seminars in AJ04001 function as more practical insights into analyzing literary texts and writing critical research papers about them. They are based on discussions and group work.
Course objectives: 1. To learn the methods of conducting library research and working with primary and secondary sources. 2. To acquire the techniques needed for literary analysis and writing academic essays. 3. To refine critical thinking about literature and achieve a deeper understanding of how literature affects us and how it enriches our perception of the world.
Learning outcomes
After attending this course, students will be able to:
- write an essay in the English language
- conduct independent research and employ foreign literature
Syllabus
  • 1. Doc. Michael M. Kaylor: Introduction the Study of Literature
  • 2. Dr. Filip Krajník: Elizabethan Drama
  • 3. Doc. Michael M. Kaylor: Romantic Poetry
  • 4. Doc. Michael M. Kaylor: Gothic Novel
  • 5. Dr. Stephen Hardy: Victorian Novel
  • 6. Dr. Jeffrey A. Smith: American Renaissance
Literature
    required literature
  • Barnet, Sylvan, et al. A short Guide to Writing About Literature
  • MLA Handbook. Eighth edition. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2016, xiv, 146. ISBN 9781603292627. info
  • DICKENS, Charles. Hard times. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1994, vi, 268 s. ISBN 0-14-062044-3. info
  • SHAKESPEARE, William. Hamlet. Edited by Alistair McCallum. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, 42 s. ISBN 0194232204. info
  • SHELLEY, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. Edited by Patrick Nobes. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, 72 s. ISBN 0194230031. info
Teaching methods
The lectures take place once in two weeks, they are complemented by tutorials/seminars taking place in alternate weeks.
Assessment methods
1 credit is given for attending the lecture series.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/AJL04100