Development of the Novel
About the course
This course is intended for students in the master's programme in English literature and students in the master's programme in education year 8-13 (lektorutdanning, studieretning engelsk, jf. progresjonskrav for år 4).
This course may be taken as a single course by students who meet the admission requirements for the master's programme in English Literature.
This course fulfils the Studies in Genre requirement for the master's programme in English literature.
The course will offer a close reading of 5 major Anglophone novels alongside a careful examination and contextualization of generic innovations and developments. Since one semester does not allow for an exhaustive consideration of the historical development of the novel, the course will focus on sites of tension in the genre’s development, and the five novels will be used as starting points for broader generic discussions. We will look at the ways novels have historically fit themselves to society, strained against it, and constructed the act of reading as radically different experiences.
Admission requirements
Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), or equivalent qualification, in English literature, or a degree combining English literature and a closely-related discipline (minimum 80 ECTS in English). An average grade equivalent to C or better (in the Norwegian grading system) is required.
Application code: 9371 - Enkeltemner på masternivå (Nordic applicants).
Objectives of the course
The students have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
Students:
- have a comprehensive understanding of the novel form and its history, including major sub-genres
- understand the relationship between socio-historical shifts and developments in the genre, with a focus on Britain and America
- understand the significance of shifts in the genre form within the Anglo-American novel writing tradition
Skills
Students are able to:
- present and discuss the knowledge they have acquired both orally and in writing
- approach novels through competing theorizations of the genre
- explicate texts and develop strategies for interpretation in relation to existing criticism
- use narratological terms to describe and compare novels
Credit reduction
If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:
- ENG-3102 Captivity Narratives, 1760-1900 10 ects
- ENG-3102 Captivity Narratives in English, 1760-1860 10 ects
- ENG-2102 Development of the Novel 10 ects
Teaching methods
The course is taught weekly in two-hour sessions of the lecture and discussion over the whole semester. The classes will consist of lectures, seminars/exercises, and discussions.
Quality assurance
All courses will be evaluated once during the period of the study program. The board of the program decides which courses will be evaluated by students and teacher each year.
Language of instruction and examination
English.Recommended reading/syllabus
Du kan se og få tilgang til deler av pensum via Leganto.
Pensumliste for ENG-3102 - Development of the Novel (HØST 2025)Information to incoming exchange students
This course is open for inbound exchange student who meets the admission requirements.
Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: INBOUND STUDENT MOBILITY: COURSE COORDINATORS AT THE FACULTIES | UiT
Examination
| Assignment | Hand in: 08.12.2025 14:00 |
Grade: A–E, fail F |
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| The students will write a brief response paper to each of the novels | Grade: Approved – not approved |
Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage