FF:UCJL17 Insights into 20th Century Wor - Course Information

UCJL17 Insights into 20th Century World Literature

Extent and Intensity

1/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Tereza Dědinová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petr Vokřínek, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. Zbyněk Fišer, Ph.D.
Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Veronika Bromová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 19 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The main aim of the course is to introduce important works of 20th century world literature whose content reflects not only the major world-changing events of modern history, but also the key ideas and artistic trends of the period. Relevant works will be used to illustrate the distinctive features of modern literature, pointing out what is period, national, or individual specific, but also what is the timeless, generally human staple of all literatures. The emphasis will therefore be on the comparative aspect, whether in the synchronic or diachronic sense. Attention will also be paid to the development of world literature at the beginning of the 21st century, which, in addition to the continuing influx of postmodern plurality, brings a number of other original impulses. Although most of the works selected are prose, dramatic or poetic works will not be completely neglected. The mosaic of world literature will thus be to some extent more plastic. The course is designed as a two-hour seminar based on a joint discussion of the selected works, which will be regularly preceded by a one-hour lecture, placing the topic in a literary and social context.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- characterize major works of modern world literature;
- abstract the specific features of individual national literatures and individual creative individuals;
- recognize diverse artistic and thought movements beneath the surface of the plot;
- reflect on the developmental tendencies of world literature;
- assess the influence of world literature on domestic literature and thus determine the place of Czech literature within world literature

Syllabus

• In the Sign of Absurdity (F. Kafka: The Metamorphosis; G. Beckett: Waiting for Godot), P. Vokřínek
• Echoes of the First World War (E. Hamingway: Goodbye Army, G. Trakl: Poems), P. Vokřínek
• Myth in a Modern Cut (J. Joyce: Ulysses), P. Vokřínek
• World War II in the angle of fantasy (G. Grass: The Tin Drum, R. Rolland: Peter and Lucie), P. Vokřínek
• Man condemned to existence (A. Camus: The Stranger, J.-P. Sartre: Flies), P. Vokřínek
• Russian Reality without Distortions (A. Solzhenitsyn: The Gulag Archipelago, V. Vysotsky: Truth and Lies), P. Vokřínek
• South American magical realism and the miraculous real ( G. G. Márquez: One Hundred Years of Solitude, P. Coelho: The Alchemist), P. Vokřínek
• Under the Wings of Postmodernism (U. Eco: The Name of the Rose), P. Vokřínek
• Surrealism in the Oriental Spirit (H. Murakami: Kafka on the Shore, Chronicle of a Bird on a Sprout, 1Q84), T. Dědinová
• The Way of "Speculative Literature" (M. Atwood: The Handmaid's Tale, Testimony), T. Dědinová
• Echoes of Old Times in Modern Prose (M. Faber: The Crimson and White Flower), T. Dědinová
• In the Landscapes of Young Adult Fantasy (A. Dědina, T. Kwaymullina: The Tribe Series, N. and J. Shusterman: Drought, S. Lloyd: The Carbon Diaries, T. Pratchett: Tiffany Aching), T. Dědinová

Literature

• PAVELKA, Jiří and Ivo POSPÍŠIL. Slovník epoch, směrů, skupin a manifestů. [Brno]: Masarykova univerzita. Středisko pro pomoc studentům se specifickými nároky], 2015, 1 online. URL info
• STŘÍBRNÝ, Zdeněk. Dějiny anglické literatury. [Brno: Masarykova univerzita. Středisko pro pomoc studentům se specifickými nároky, 2007, 1 online. URL info
• SOUKAL, Josef. Přehled dějin literatury : pro střední školy. 1. vydání. Praha: SPN - pedagogické nakladatelství, akciová společnost, 2007, 143 stran. ISBN 9788072353569. info
• BLAŽKE, Jaroslav. Kouzelné zrcadlo literatury. 1. vyd. Praha: Velryba, 2005, 255 s. ISBN 8085860163. info
• PELÁN, Jiří. Slovník italských spisovatelů. 1. vyd. Praha: Libri, 2004, 751 s. ISBN 8072771809. info
• BLAŽKE, Jaroslav. Kouzelné zrcadlo literatury. 1. vyd. Praha: Velryba, 2003, 295 s. ISBN 8085860155. info
• KYLOUŠEK, Petr. Slovník francouzsky píšících spisovatelů (Dictionary of French Speaking Authors). 1st ed. Praha: Libri, 2002, 760 pp. sine. ISBN 80-7277-130-2. info
• KASACK, Wolfgang. Slovník ruské literatury 20. století. Translated by Jiří F. Franěk. Praha: Votobia, 2000, 622 s. ISBN 8072200844. info
• POSPÍŠIL, Ivo and Simoneta DEMBICKÁ. Světové literatury 20. století v kostce : americká, britská, francouzská, italská, Latinské Ameriky, německá, ruská, španělská. 1. vyd. Praha: Libri, 1999, 239 s. ISBN 808598380X. info
• Slovník spisovatelů. Edited by Martin Procházka - Zdeněk Stříbrný. 1. vyd. Praha: Libri, 1996, 756 s. ISBN 80-85983. info
• HODOUŠEK, Eduard. Slovník spisovatelů Latinské Ameriky : Argentina, Bolívie, Brazílie, Dominikánská republika, Ekvádor, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Chile, Kolumbie, Kostarika, Kuba, Mexiko, Nikaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portoriko, Salvador, Surinam, Uruguay,. Edited by Eduard Hodoušek. První vydání. Praha: Libri, 1996, 588 stran. ISBN 8085983109. info
• MACURA, Vladimír. Slovník světových literárních děl. 1, A - L. Praha: Odeon, 1988, 475 s. info
• MACURA, Vladimír. Slovník světových literárních děl. 2, M - Ž. Praha: Odeon, 1988, 459 s. info

Teaching methods

Independent reading of assigned books and excerpts, discussion of selected works.

Assessment methods

Active participation in the discussion, final essay.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

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

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/UCJL17