Modernism: Contemporary Narratives of Loss and Transformation

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).

This course can be taken as a single course by students who fulfil the admission requirements.

This course investigates the emergence and development of modernism as a literary phenomenon in the United Kingdom and the United States (and elsewhere) in the first half of the twentieth century. Our progression will be roughly chronological as we begin with the early experiments in literary form that led away from traditional narrative and lyricism. From there, we will proceed to examine conflicts from issues of ethnicity and gender to the cultural trauma of the First World War and the widespread loss of religious faith.

This in-depth study of Anglophone modernism combines a historical and cultural perspective with the close analysis of selected texts, formal as well as thematic. Students will gain insight into many of the generative exchanges and collisions between literary experimentation, emerging popular media, and the social and political agendas of the early twentieth century - and their ongoing influence on the present.

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) in the English coursework (80 ECTS) is required.

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

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding:

• In this in-depth study of Anglophone modernism, emphasis will be given to the historical origins and definition of literary modernism. The course also pays close attention to the diversity and multiformity of modernism expression across a range of selected texts.

Skills:

• Increased proficiency in writing and speaking English.
• Strengthened ability to explain ideas in a coherent manner with support from close readings of texts.
• Increased competence in interpreting literary texts in historical, cultural, and critical contexts.
• Improved ability to identify and explain elements of style in imaginative writing

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-2114 American Literature between the World Wars 10 ects

Language of instruction and examination

Schedule

This course is open to incoming exchange students.

Study level: Master’s

Admission prerequisites:
This course has admission prerequisites, which are listed under the Admission requirements section. Please review this information carefully before adding the course to your Learning Agreement.

For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.

More info about the coursework requirements

• Each student will give a short oral presentation introducing a chosen text from the syllabus on the week when we read the text they have chosen.
• Each student must also present his or her work in progress for the end-of-term paper in a seminar session.

More info about the assignment

Re-sit examination