2007 BM1 Introduction to Literature, Part 2
The second part of our Basismodule focuses on techniques of textual analysis in the context of discussing literature. We are offering seven parallel courses (supported by tutorials). Please make sure that you are registered in Stud.IP both for the main page of the module and for your individual course. All parallel courses have a common structure, but each course may differ in emphasis. You will find information relating to all the courses on this page, and the pages for the individual courses for information on your course:
- 2007 BM1-A Olaf Simons, Mo 14-16
- 2007 BM1-B Anton Kirchhofer, Tu 14-16
- 2007 BM1-C Olaf Simons, Tu 14-16
- 2007 BM1-D Anna Auguscik, Tu 14-16
- 2007 BM1-E Olaf Simons, We 16-18
- 2007 BM1-F Katharina Schneider, AK, OS, Fr 8-10
- 2007 BM1-G Annika McPherson, Tu 12-14
The texts for our courses will come from a common pool, though each course may have a different choice. You should make sure to read at least those texts that are dealt with in your course.
The "analytical tools" will be presented by the lectures (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.
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 the Shakespeare play read in your course in an Arden Edition (ca. 14 EUR at the CvO bookshop).
Contents
- 1 A Poem
- 2 Poetry and Poetics
- 3 Poetry and Poetics: Speaking about Beautiful/Artful Language
- 4 Rhetoric
- 5 Dramatic Structures, Dramatic Communication
- 6 Drama: Characters and Genre Aspects
- 7 Drama and Fiction
- 8 Fiction 1
- 9 Fiction 2
- 10 Film
- 11 Beyond the Canon 1
- 12 Beyond the Canon 2
- 13 Term Paper Projects
A Poem
Texts
William Blake, Jerusalem.
Course Work
Group work with presentations:
- What is poetic about this poem?
- What are the Themes of the poem?
- What historical contexts?
- What is its cultural significance (then and later/now)?
Seminar discussion: What discourses did you employ? What traditions do they belong to? How does this relate back to the lecture of the Winter Term? Survey of the coming Term.
Poetry and Poetics
Analytical Tools
Culler 161-178, Ludwig, 42-43
Texts
Astrophil, Percy, Christina Rossetti
Course Work
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
Poetry and Poetics: Speaking about Beautiful/Artful Language
Analytical Tools
Ludwig 55-65; G. Leech, 147-157
Texts
George Herbert, "The Deniall", Emily Dickinson
Course Work
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 1 given]
Rhetoric
Analytical Tools
Plett 3-22, 102-105
Texts
One of the three Shakespeare plays
Course Work
A speech from the Shakespeare play of the next four sessions [assignment 1 due]
Dramatic Structures, Dramatic Communication
Analytical Tools
Pfister 49 - 57, 86 - 94, 126 - 147
Texts
One of the three Shakespeare plays
Course Work
Exposition
Drama: Characters and Genre Aspects
Analytical Tools
Pfister 183 - 195
Texts
One of the three Shakespeare plays
Course Work
Distinguish modes of characterisation [assignment 2 given]
Drama and Fiction
Analytical Tools
- Aristotle, Poetics
- Huet, Pierre Daniel, Treatise of Romances [1670] (1672)
- Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Art of Poetry (1687)
Texts
- Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown
- Coover, Magic Poker
Course Work
An understanding of genres in the context of traditional poetics, and of the
Fiction 1
Analytical Tools
Rimmon-Kenan
Texts
- Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown
- Catherine Mansfield, The Voyage
- Coover, Magic Poker
Course Work
Narration, Focalisation. [assignment 2 returned]
Fiction 2
Analytical Tools
Rimmon-Kenan
Texts
- Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown
- Catherine Mansfield, The Voyage
- Coover, Magic Poker
Course Work
Plot and Characters. [assignment 3 given]
Film
Analytical Tools
Texts
Pulp Fiction
Course Work
Narratives and Fiction. Film Analysis. [assignment 3 due]
Beyond the Canon 1
Analytical Tools
Texts
John Mandeville, Voyages [c. 1360] (1705)
Course Work
Literary Analysis and non-literary materials, [assignment 3 returned]
Beyond the Canon 2
Analytical Tools
Texts
Orientalist GEO, Time Life, Palestine, India etc.
Course Work
Literary Analysis and non-literary materials
Term Paper Projects
Course Work
Brief Report on 'Work in Progress': Your Term Paper Projects
