AJ2MP_B20A Seminar to British literature of the 20th century

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Zdeněk Janík, M.A., 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
AJ2MP_B20A/01: Wed 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, L. Podroužková
AJ2MP_B20A/02: Tue 14:00–15:50 učebna 63, L. Podroužková
Prerequisites
Students are familiar with the development of British literature till the beginning of the 20th century, possess advanced reading skills and are familiar with the methods of close reading and textual analysis. Students are comfortable with reading English texts in the original and engage in the said practice.
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 survey course examines the development of British literature throughout the 20th century on the background of historical, social and cultural events. In the seminars we will explore major writers, works and literary movements of the period as well as varied or recurrent themes and motifs in the assigned readings. At the end of the course students will be able to recognize major figures, works, trends and issues in the post 1945 British literature, gain understanding of their sociocultural backdrop, and link these to their professional and personal development.
Learning outcomes
Outcomes:
The student:
will read, analyse and interpret modern literary texts written in English both on literary level and in a wider context;
will be able to bridge themes and topics occurring in the readings to their own reality;
will have written a number of short summaries, analyses and arguments based on class readings;
will have read one British novel (or two plays) from the post-1945 period, will identify a topic and formulate an argument, which will be delivered both orally and in the written form;
is able to read and think about, and discuss a wide range of themes, including controversial and tabooed issues, as well as respect and value differing views and stances;
understands literature as a source of sustainable, life-long learning as well as inspiration for their teaching.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to contemporary Britain: British national identity revised in the post-war and post-Brexit context. 2. "A cuppa?" Tradition and sterepotypes in contemporary Britain (Goerge Orwell, Jeremy Paxman, David Lodge and Bill Bryson). 3. Reconstructing Britain after the WWII and the assertion of the young: The Welfare state and Angry Young Men (John Osborne, Kingsley Amis). 4. The 1960s: Swinging London and the Cultural Revolution. Postmodernism in art and literature (John Fowles). 5. Other voices: postmodernism and deconstructing the narrative (Tom Stoppard, Ali Smith). 6. History versus herstory: feminism and contemporary women wrtiers (Angela Carter, Wendy Cope). 7. East and West: postcolonial period and British ethnic writing (Salman Rushdie, Hanif Kureishi, Kazuo Ishiguro). 8. Mis/communication in the world of telecommunication and mobile systems (Stevie Smith, Roger McGough, Patrick Marber). 9. Devolution and the boom of regional literatures (Liz Lochhead, Tom Leonard, Jackie Kay). 10. Multiculturalism and urban living (Martin Amis, Benjamin Zephaniah). 11. Student presentations. 12. Student presentations.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • The Longman anthology of British literature. Edited by David Damrosch - Kevin J. H. Dettmar - Jennifer Wicke. 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 2002, xxiii, s. ISBN 032110580X. info
  • SANDERS, Andrew. The short Oxford history of English literature. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, 732 s. ISBN 0198186975. info
  • BURGESS, Anthony. English literature : a survey for students. London: Longman, 1958, 278 p. ISBN 0582552249. info
    not specified
  • The contemporary British novel. Edited by James Acheson - Sarah C. E. Ross. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005, iv, 250 p. ISBN 0748618953. info
  • Dark humor and social satire in the modern British novel. Edited by Lisa Colletta. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003, 154 p. ISBN 1403963657. info
  • Father and sonKingsley Amis, Martin Amis, and the British novel since 1950. Edited by Gavin Keulks. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2003, viii, 328. ISBN 0299192148. info
  • CARTER, Ronald and John MCRAE. The Routledge history of literature in English: Britain and Ireland. Edited by Malcolm Bradbury. London: Routledge, 1997, xix, 592. ISBN 0415123437. info
  • BRADBURY, Malcolm. The modern British novel. London: Penguin Books, 1994, xvi, 515 s. ISBN 0-14-023098-X. info
  • MEISEL, Perry. The myth of the modern :a study in British literature and criticism after 1850. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987, x, 263 s. ISBN 0-300-03946-8. info
  • MORRIS, Robert K. Continuance and change : the contemporary British novel sequence. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1972, xx, 164. ISBN 0809305445. info
  • MANLY, John Matthews, Fred Benjamin MILLETT and Edith RICKERT. Contemporary British literature : a critical survey and 232 author-bibliographies. 3rd rev. and enl. ed. / base. London: Harcourt, Brace, 1935, xi, 556 p. info
Teaching methods
Intensive and extensive reading. Textual analysis and interpretation. Pair, group and class discussions on the assigned readings. Writing practice. Presentation practice.
Assessment methods
80% attendance and active participation in the discussions and class tasks. Weekly readings and assignments. 1 novel to read. Final presentation.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=2468
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
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