PdF:AJ4301 Contemporary British Literatur - Course Information

AJ4301 Contemporary British Literature and Society

Extent and Intensity

0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, 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

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

there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Abstract

Critical thinking, digital literacy, presentation skills and logical and meaningful argumentation are important 21st skills. In this class, the students will learn how to construct a solid argument based on their reading and analysis, write an abstract and deliver their argument in an oral presentation.
This 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.
While the content and design of the course targets students on their university level and enhances their academic and presentation skills, the methods, approaches, themes and values are applicable intro their teaching practice.

Learning outcomes

Outcomes:
The student:
will read, analyse and interpret modern literary texts written in English both on a literary level and in a wider context;
will be able to bridge themes and topics occurring in the readings to their own reality and the reality of their pupils;
will have written a given number of short texts (summaries, analyses and arguments) based on class readings;
will have read one British novel (or two plays) from the post-1945 period;
will create one classroom game on history/culture/literature of the given period;
will learn how to identify a topic and will construct and formulate an argument, which will be delivered both orally and in the written form and which meets the requierements and criteria of the Literature State Exam;
will be able to read and think about, and discuss a wide range of themes, including issues that have an overlap into the classroom reality, as well as respect and value differing views and stances;
will understand literature as a source of sustainable, life-long learning as well as inspiration for their teaching.

Key topics

• 1. Course introduction and introduction to Britain after WWII. Structuring an argument: what makes a good argument and why it matters.
• 2. Introduction to contemporary Britain: British national identity revised in the post-war and post-Brexit context (Jeremy Paxman, Kazuo Ishiguro).
• 3. Reconstructing Britain after the WWII and the 1950s: Post-war dark visions: George Orwell, William Golding.
• 4. Existentialism and the Theatre of the Absurd: Samuel Beckett. Assertion of the young (Angry Young Men, the kitchen-sink drama): John Osborne. Radio drama: Dylan Thomas.
• 5. The Postmodern condition: sense of alienation and abandonment (Stevie Smith, Roger McGough). Postmodernism in art and literature (Anthony Burgess).
• 6. The 1960s: Swinging London and the Cultural Revolution. Other voices: Postmodernism and deconstructing the narrative (Ali Smith).
• 7. The 1970s: East and West: postcolonial period and British ethnic writing (Hanif Kureishi, Kazuo Ishiguro).
• 8. READING WEEK
• 9. The 1980s: History versus herstory: feminism and contemporary women writers (Wendy Cope, Grace Nichols, Angela Carter).
• 10. The 1990s: Chick and lad lit (Helen Fielding), in-yer-face theatre and cool drama, Patrick Marber.
• 11. Devolution and the boom of regional literatures (Tom Leonard).
• 12. Student presentations.
• 13. Student presentations.

Study resources and literature

• DUGGAN, Robert. The grotesque in contemporary British fiction. First published. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2013, 276 stran. ISBN 9780719078910. info
• Ethics and trauma in contemporary British fiction. Edited by Susana Onega Jaâen - Jean-Michel Ganteau. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2011, 330 p. ISBN 9789401200080. info
• LANE, David. Contemporary British drama. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010, vii, 218. ISBN 9780748638222. info
• The careless statewealth and welfare in Britain today. Edited by Paul Taylor. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2010, ix, 230 p. ISBN 9781849663557. info
• Contemporary British fiction. Edited by Nick Bentley. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008, xiv, 245 p. ISBN 9780748624201. info
• BRADFORD, Richard. The novel now : contemporary British fiction. 1st pub. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2007, vii, 259. ISBN 9781405113861. info
• A concise companion to contemporary British fiction. Edited by James F. English. Malden: Blackwell, 2006, xi, 281. ISBN 9781405120012. info
• 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
• BRADBURY, Malcolm. The modern British novel. London: Penguin Books, 1994, xvi, 515. ISBN 014023098X. info
• MUSMAN, Richard and D'Arcy ADRIAN-VALLANCE. Britain today. 4. vyd. Harlow: Longman, 1989, iii, 156. ISBN 0582749301. info
• Political issues in Britain today. Edited by Bill Jones. 3rd ed. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1989, vii, 337 p. ISBN 0-7190-3019-6. info
• Women in Britain today. Edited by Veronica Beechey - Elizabeth Whitelegg. Milton Keynes, England: Open University Press, 1986, vi, 216 p. ISBN 0-335-15137-X. info
• BOWKER, John. Worlds of faith : religious belief and practice in Britain today. 1st publ. London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 1983, 312 s. ISBN 0563201975. info
• MORRIS, Robert K. Continuance and change : the contemporary British novel sequence. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1972, xx, 164. ISBN 0809305445. info

Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

Intensive and extensive reading.
Textual analysis and interpretation.
Pair, group and class discussions on assigned readings.
Writing practice.
Presentation practice.
Micro-teaching.

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

The course credits are awarded for completing the continuous and the summative assessments. Both CA and SA contain a portfolio task. Continuous assessment:
1. 80% attendance and active participation in the discussions and class tasks.
2. Weekly readings and assignments.
3.1 novel to read.
4. Micro-teaching, see Competences 1.2., 2.4., 2.5. and 5.1 according to KRAAU-OSKR.
Summative assessment:
5. Learning journal and presentation, see Competences 5.2.1.1., 1.2., 2.5., 4.1. and 5.2. as in KRAAU/OSKR

Alternate completion

For outgoing Erasmus students individual study play is nagotiable

Language of instruction

English

Study support

https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3750

Further Comments

The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.

Teacher's information

https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3750

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2026, recent)
  
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