230048 Literary Theory (S) (WiSe 2018/2019)
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“Hostility to theory usually means an opposition to other people’s theories and an oblivion of one’s own.” –Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory: An Introduction, p. xii
Theory is a way to see the world and there is no way to see the world without theory: we can only be more or less conscious of it. Theory provides terminology and methodology to illuminate specific phenomena (some defined broadly, some narrowly) from a certain, selected angle. Literature is the phenomenon that we are interested in here, and we will see how theory can enrich our speaking and writing about it.
In this seminar we will do three things:
- We will look at the development of ‘theory’ in the context of 20th and 21st century social and cultural development; and how it crystallized into a part of our discipline which has generated a wealth of introductory works. The questions we ask are: How does literary studies make use of theory; explicitly in analysis and criticism? And implicitly: What kinds of theoretical premises come with the territory?
- We will familiarize ourselves with selected literary theories in greater depth and apply them to literary texts. The questions we ask are: What results do they yield? What do they allow us to say that we wouldn’t have been able to without theoretical framework? What is the benefit of using them?
- We will address how to use theory in our scholarly writing. The questions we ask are: How can we generate theoretically informed arguments? How can we embed theory in our writing, structurally and rhetorically?
I’m very excited to teach this particular course because, as a student, the study of literary theory was hugely inspiring for my reading experience and all my thinking; I’m looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm with you and hope to re-create this experience for some of you! :)
Also please check out the reading requirements below!
Teaching staff
Dates ( Calendar view )
| Frequency | Weekday | Time | Format / Place | Period |
|---|
Subject assignments
| Module | Course | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-ANG-M-AngGM1 Grundmodul 1: Theories of Language, Literature and Culture | GM 1.2 Literary Theory | Study requirement
|
Student information |
| - | Graded examination | Student information |
The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.
The Studienleistung for this class will be a written mock exam toward the last third of term in preparation for the GM1 module exam.
The required reading for this seminar consists in the following two novels, which are to be read before classes start, and several movies, which you can watch during the semester.
- Novel: Yvonne Roberts, A History of Insects (2001)
- Novel: Naomi Alderman, The Power (2016)
- Movie: Wonder Woman (2017, dir. Patty Jenkins)
- Movie: La La Land (2016, dir. Damien Chazelle)
- Movie: Blade Runner (1982, dir. Ridley Scott)
- Movie: The Piano (1993, dir. Jane Campion)
It is important to me that you prepare these media, i.e. read them with a scholarly stance and a critical eye for composition, take notes on formal features, earmark important passages, and draw up character constellations. Use all the skills you have acquired so far in your study of literature, so that you have good access to the material during class discussions. We will apply various literary theories to these media over the course of the semester.
I will select and upload secondary reading for each class toward the beginning of the term, and also send around a syllabus with further details on formalities. Those of you who have studied with me previously know that I will always ask you to prepare a lot of text for the sessions (and it will be difficult, because, well, theory), so plan your studies accordingly, don’t take too many other MA classes and be sure to have enough time on your hands.
I have set up a reserved reading shelf (‘Semesterapparat’) in the LiLi library on C1, with a large selection of introductions to literary theory. The prep assignment for the very first class session will be that you survey this selection to see what we seem to mean when we say ‘literary theory’, but I’ll send around details on that in the week before classes start.
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- Last update basic details/teaching staff:
- Thursday, April 26, 2018
- Last update times:
- Tuesday, November 27, 2018
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- Tuesday, November 27, 2018
- Type(s) / SWS (hours per week per semester)
- seminar (S) / 2
- Language
- This lecture is taught in english
- Department
- Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies
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