2008-09 BM1 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature, Part 1
Please note that this academic year we will begin with the parallel courses (former Part II, now Part I) in the winter term and proceed with the lecture (former Part I, now Part II) in the summer term. It is not important which part of BM 1 you study first - as long as you study both.
See also: BM1:Curriculum for more information about what the BM1 wants to achieve and the specific course requirements.
- 3.02.011 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature Part 1 - Course A - Anton Kirchhofer - Di 10-12 - A1 0-004
- 3.02.012 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature Part 1 - Course B - Anna Auguscik Mi 12-14 - A1 0-009
- 3.02.013 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature Part 1 - Course C - Olaf Simons - Di 14-16 - A07 0-030 (HS G)
- 3.02.014 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature Part 1 - Course D - Olaf Simons - Mo 10-12 - A06 0-001
- 3.02.015 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature Part 1 - Course E - Annika McPherson - Fr 14-16 - A06 0-001
- 3.02.017 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature Part 1 - Course F - Katharina Schneider - Blockseminar
- 3.02.019 Tutorien
- Hannah Treffert: Di 8 - 10, A04 4-411 (starts Oct 28)
- Soeren Koopmann: Do 8 - 10, A01 0-004 (starts Oct 30)
- Sarina Lal: Fr 10 - 12, A13 0-027 (starts Oct 31)
The first part of the Basismodul focuses on techniques of textual analysis in the context of discussing literature. We are offering five parallel courses (supported by tutorials). Please make sure that you are registered under ONE of these in Stud.IP and open a wiki account which will enable you to participate in online discussions.
All parallel courses have a common structure. The texts for our courses will come from a common pool, though each course may have a different choice. You will find information relating to your course under the individual course number and lecturer.
The "analytical tools" will be presented by the lecturers (on a handout) in each meeting. The additional reading from which these 'tools' are taken is not obligatory, and it can be done either before or after each session.
Both the texts and the other materials will be made accessible to you electronically (cf. the links below) and as a master copy at Wersig. In addition you will need to purchase two books.
Courses A-E:
- William Shakespeare. The Tempest [1611]. Ed. Virginia Mason Vaughan and Alden T. Vaughan. London: Arden (3rd Series), 2000.
- Joseph Conrad. Heart of Darkness [1899]. Eds. Owen Knowles, Robert Hampson, and J.H. Stape. London: Penguin Classics, 2007.
Course F:
- William Shakespeare. Othello [1603]. Ed. E.A.J. Honigmann. London: Arden (3rd Series), 1996.
- Joseph Conrad. Heart of Darkness [1899]. Eds. Owen Knowles, Robert Hampson, and J.H. Stape. London: Penguin Classics, 2007.
Course work: You will be asked to hand in three assignments (in session 6, 10 and 13 respectively) and produce a Research Paper Outline (due 02.03.09). The assignments are limited to a max. of 2-3 pages of text, formatted according to the style sheet, and will require you to analyse poetry, drama and fiction respectively. For the Research Paper Outline you will need to find your own topic to work on and document the preliminary work (this includes finding an appropriate title, writing a paragraph that describes your problem and your goal, and presenting a tentative table of contents as well as a short bibliography).
Tutorials will help you to practise your analysis skills and support you in doing your assignments and Research Paper Outline.
Two useful links for all assignements:
- Survive Assignments
- Literary Studies:Writing academic texts - good for the research paper outline
Contents
- 1 Session One, Oct 13-17: Literature and Education
- 2 Session Two, Oct 20-24: Poetry 1
- 3 Session Three, Oct 27-30: Poetry 2
- 4 Session Four, Nov 3-7: Poetry 3
- 5 Session Five, Nov 10-14: Drama 1
- 6 Session Six, Nov 17-21: Drama 2
- 7 Session Seven, Nov 24-28: Drama 3
- 8 Session Eight, Dec 1-5: Literary Theory
- 9 Session Nine, Dec 9: Film Screening
- 10 Session Ten, Dec 15-19: Film Analysis
- 11 Session Eleven, Jan 5-9: Fiction 1
- 12 Session Twelve, Jan 12-16: Fiction 2
- 13 Session Thirteen, Jan 19-23: Beyond the Literary Text or Recapitulation
- 14 Session Fourteen, Jan 26-30: Term Paper Projects
- 15 Further Reading
Session One, Oct 13-17: Literature and Education
Welcome
- Introduction to the BM 1 Curriculum, Aims and Goals
- Introduction to the BM 1 Programme
Texts
- Poetry Reader includes:
- Rudyard Kipling, "The White Man's Burden" (1899)
- Langston Hughes, "I, Too" (1925)
- Walt Whitman, "One's Self I Sing" (1867)
- John Donne: “Holy Sonnet XIV” (1633)
- John Milton: “Sonnet VII” (1645)
- John Milton: “Sonnet XIX” (1673)
- Stevie Smith: “The Galloping Cat”
Skills and Activities Preliminaries for seminar communication.
source Wikipedia
Session Two, Oct 20-24: Poetry 1
Analytical Tools
- Handout Analysing Poetry 1
- Sources: Culler 161-178; Ludwig, 31-33; Cambridge Companion to Literatures in English
Texts
- Poetry Reader
Skills and Activities
Structural approach to poetry: communicative situation, themes, metrics and language. Acquire a basic checklist of what to look (first) for in a poem. Recapitulate the basics of metrics and rhyme patterns.
Session Three, Oct 27-30: Poetry 2
Analytical Tools
- Handout Analysing Poetry 1
- Sources: Culler 161-178; Ludwig, 31-33; Cambridge Companion to Literatures in English
Texts
- Poetry Reader
Skills and Activities
Structural approach to poetry: communicative situation, themes, metrics and language. Acquire a basic checklist of what to look (first) for in a poem. Recapitulate the basics of metrics and rhyme patterns. Recognise the features of a particular genre and genre conventions: the sonnet.
Session Four, Nov 3-7: Poetry 3
Analytical Tools
- Ludwig, 47-60
- Leech, 147-157
- Handout: Figurative Speech
Texts
- Poetry Reader
Skills and Activities
Figurative language, interplay. Spot metaphors, similes, etc. the metric pattern and valorise the points where it is broken. Reinforce basic checklist of previous week. Analyse particular features of poetic language (figures of speech, metrical effects).
Assignment I: Poetry (Due: Session 6)
Session Five, Nov 10-14: Drama 1
Analytical Tools
Texts
- Shakespeare, The Tempest (1611)
Skills and Activities
A speech from the Shakespeare play
Session Six, Nov 17-21: Drama 2
Analytical Tools
Pfister 49 - 57, 86 - 94, 126 - 147 Excerpt from Pfister
Handout: Analysing Dramatic Communication
Texts
- Shakespeare, The Tempest (1611)
Skills and Activities
Dramatic Structures and Communication, Exposition [assignment 1 due]
Session Seven, Nov 24-28: Drama 3
Analytical Tools
Texts
- Shakespeare, The Tempest (1611)
Skills and Activities
Characters and Genre Aspects
Session Eight, Dec 1-5: Literary Theory
Analytical Tools
Texts
Skills and Activities
Postcolonial Studies
Assignment II: Drama (Due: Dec 19)
Session Nine, Dec 9: Film Screening
Francis Ford Coppola (dir.), Apocalypse Now (1979 film)
- Venue: A14 1-101 (Hörsaal 1)
- Time: 19.45 - 22.15 h
Session Ten, Dec 15-19: Film Analysis
Analytical Tools
- Handout: Film Analysis
- David Bordwell et al.; Korte, Einführung in die Systematische Filmanalyse (2000)
Texts
- Francis Ford Coppola, Apocalypse Now (1979)
- Essay on Apocalypse Now in: Moore, Gene M., Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: a Casebook, place: publ., 183-196.
Skills and Activities
Spectacle, Narratives and Fiction. Film Analysis.
[assignment 2 due]
Übungsblatt (practice sheet on research techniques) deadline: first session in January!
Session Eleven, Jan 5-9: Fiction 1
Analytical Tools
Handout: Narratology
Texts
- Conrad, Heart of Darkness (1899)
Skills and Activities
Narration, Focalisation. [assignment 2 returned]
Assignment III: Fiction (Due: Session 13)
Session Twelve, Jan 12-16: Fiction 2
Analytical Tools
Handout: Narratology
Texts
- Conrad, Heart of Darkness (1899)
Session Thirteen, Jan 19-23: Beyond the Literary Text or Recapitulation
Analytical Tools
Texts
Skills and Activities
Literary Analysis and non-literary materials,
[assignment 3 due]
Session Fourteen, Jan 26-30: Term Paper Projects
Skills and Activities
Brief Report on 'Work in Progress': Your Term Paper Projects [assignment 3 returned]
Assignment 4: Term Paper Projects (Due: 02.03.09)
