Module 23-LIT-M-PM4 Profile module 4: Transnational Literary History

Faculty

Person responsible for module

Regular cycle (beginning)

Every semester

Credit points and duration

10 Credit points

For information on the duration of the modul, refer to the courses of study in which the module is used.

Competencies

The module builds on the historical knowledge of comparative literary history acquired in Basismodul 2. Students advance their knowledge of (non)European literary and cultural history. They learn to establish connections between temporally and spatially disparate developments and to draw cross-connections. In doing so, they practise the historical classification and contextualisation of cultural artefacts as well as the deliberate use of historiographical and comparative methods.
On the one hand, the module allows students to promote their historiographical skills and, on the other, to expand their inter-/transcultural skills. The foreign language skills acquired in Aufbaumodul 3 can also be applied. The literary and cultural-historical knowledge, the inter- and transcultural skills as well as the (re-)contextualisation skills are implemented in the final module examination.

Content of teaching

The module invites students to explore literature beyond the horizon of national literary historiography. It is based on the premise that a profound understanding of literature should take into account not only its immediate local/national context of origin, but also the diverse transregional/national and transcultural circulation dynamics that literature is part of. In this module, students learn about literature's movements across linguistic and cultural borders as well as the literary interdependencies between different European and non-European cultures.
Students acquire in-depth knowledge of transnational reception histories of individual works and authors, transnational genre history and canon formation, translation history and the similarities and differences between national literary histories, for example with regard to (trans-)national epoch classifications such as Baroque, Enlightenment, Sensibility, Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, etc.

Recommended previous knowledge

23-LIT-M-BM1
23-LIT-M-BM2

Necessary requirements

Explanation regarding the elements of the module

Module structure: 2 SL, 1 bPr 1

Courses

Transnational Literary History (1)
Type seminar
Regular cycle WiSe&SoSe
Workload5 90 h (30 + 60)
LP 3 [SL]
Transnational Literary History (2)
Type seminar
Regular cycle WiSe&SoSe
Workload5 90 h (30 + 60)
LP 3 [SL]

Study requirements

Allocated examiner Workload LP2
Teaching staff of the course Transnational Literary History (1) (seminar)

The form of academic work in literary degree programmes may vary depending on the type of module, its focus and its subject matter. Possible examples include: presentations, exercises, bibliographies, position papers, short essays, meeting minutes, blog posts, brief interpretations and online tests. The following applies to all contributions: In total, each student may be required to submit written work of no more than 1,500 words, or oral contributions lasting no more than 15 minutes, or (online) tests with a total completion time of no more than 8 hours for any one course. These may be divided into several individual components. The specific requirements to be met in the course are determined by the teaching staff and announced no later than the first session.

Coursework in Literary Studies serves
- to practise a reflective and discursive approach;
- to prepare for and follow up on courses;
- to structure work within the courses;
- to summarise and reflect on the learning outcomes of the courses.

see above see above
Teaching staff of the course Transnational Literary History (2) (seminar)

The form of academic work in literary degree programmes may vary depending on the type of module, its focus and its subject matter. Possible examples include: presentations, exercises, bibliographies, position papers, short essays, meeting minutes, blog posts, brief interpretations and online tests. The following applies to all contributions: In total, each student may be required to submit written work of no more than 1,500 words, or oral contributions lasting no more than 15 minutes, or (online) tests with a total completion time of no more than 8 hours for any one course. These may be divided into several individual components. The specific requirements to be met in the course are determined by the teaching staff and announced no later than the first session.

Coursework in Literary Studies serves
- to practise a reflective and discursive approach;
- to prepare for and follow up on courses;
- to structure work within the courses;
- to summarise and reflect on the learning outcomes of the courses.

see above see above

Examinations

term paper o. portfolio o. portfolio with final oral examination o. oral presentation with written exploration
Allocated examiner Lehrende*r von einer der beiden Veranstaltungen: Transnationale Literaturgeschichte (1) / (2)
Weighting 1
Workload 120h
LP2 4

The modules are assessed on the basis of a portfolio comprising eight individual documents, each of approximately 2 pages, or a portfolio comprising six individual documents, each of approximately 2 pages, together with a final oral examination (approximately 15–20 minutes) or a seminar paper of 15–20 pages, or a presentation with a written paper (max. 30 mins, 12–14 pages). The module examination is taken as part of one of the courses attended; the examiner is the teaching staff member responsible for the course.

The scope of the content and the tasks to be completed for the portfolio are agreed with the examiner. The portfolio may include, amongst other things: a bibliography, an essay, a short interpretation, an exercise, a genre analysis, minutes or a review.

The scope of the seminar paper and the tasks to be completed are agreed with the examiner before work begins. 

The scope of the content and the specific task for the presentation and accompanying written paper are agreed with the examiner. The content of the presentation may be developed in depth, expanded upon, or aspects not covered in the presentation may be included. Furthermore, a specific aspect may be singled out and discussed in detail.

The module is used in these degree programmes:

Degree programme Profile Recom­mended start 3 Duration Manda­tory option 4
Literary Studies / Master of Arts [FsB vom 01.09.2026] Research 3. 1 or 2 semes­ters Compul­sory optional subject

Automatic check for completeness

The system can perform an automatic check for completeness for this module.


Legend

1
The module structure displays the required number of study requirements and examinations.
2
LP is the short form for credit points.
3
The figures in this column are the specialist semesters in which it is recommended to start the module. Depending on the individual study schedule, entirely different courses of study are possible and advisable.
4
Explanations on mandatory option: "Obligation" means: This module is mandatory for the course of the studies; "Optional obligation" means: This module belongs to a number of modules available for selection under certain circumstances. This is more precisely regulated by the "Subject-specific regulations" (see navigation).
5
Workload (contact time + self-study)
SoSe
Summer semester
WiSe
Winter semester
SL
study requirement
Pr
Examination
bPr
Number of examinations with grades
uPr
Number of examinations without grades
This academic achievement can be reported and recognised.
Non-official translation of the module descriptions. Only the German version is legally binding.