Colonial and Postcolonial Discourses in English Literature

This course is intended for students in the master's programme in English literature and students in the master's programme in teacher education year 8-13 (lektorutdanning trinn 8-13, studieretning engelsk).

The course may be taken as a single course by students who meet the admission requirements for the MA programme in English Literature.

"Rather than simply being the writing which 'came after' empire, postcolonial literature is that which critically scrutinizes the colonial relationship. It is writing that sets out in one way or another to resist colonialist perspectives." (Elleke Boehmer in Colonial & Postcolonial Literature, 3).

Starting with a couple of texts from the period around the turn of the 20th century, a time which was the heyday of British imperialism, this course moves on to texts giving expression to a growing sense of opposition, of "writing back", to ruling classes as well as nations and ideas. The texts selected for the course are intended to display some of the enormous variety in thematic focus and narrative strategies, as well as some of the wide geographical distribution of postcolonial literature.

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 a Norwegian C or better in the English coursework (80 ECTS) is required.

Application code: 9371 - Enkeltemner på masternivå (Nordic applicants).

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

• understanding of the various social, historical, political and cultural forces which make up the "postcolonial condition"
• insight into the main formal and thematic characteristics of fiction as well as some of the major trends in postcolonial literary and cultural theory
• in-depth knowledge of the individual texts studied

Skills

• familiarity with a diversity of texts and textual strategies in postcolonial writing
• proficiency in close reading, analysis, and interpretation of literature
• to be able to write and talk persuasively and effectively in English

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-3108 Colonial Discourses in British Nineteenth-Century Literature 10 ects

Language of instruction and examination

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

More info about the coursework requirements

• ​Oral presentation: Each student is required to give a short oral presentation or a discussion of a topic (5-10 minutes). 

• ​Midterm paper: An essay of 4-6 pages.
• ​This course requires regular attendance. For students who miss more than 3 class meetings (or who wish to take the course as distance students), it will be possible to submit a 400-word response paper addressing the topic for each class meeting missed.