Høst 2019

ENG-3111 Virginia Woolf and British Modernism - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for språk og kultur

Type of 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 (lektorutdanninga, studieretning engelsk). This course may be taken as a single course by students who meet the admission requirements for the MA programme in English Literature.

This course fulfils the Period-Based Studies requirement for the MA in English Literature.

Course overlap

ENG-2127 Virginia Woolf and British Modernism 10 stp

Course contents

This course will explore the development of British literary modernism in the first half of the twentieth century through the study of Virginia Woolf¿s writing (1882-1941). We will relate Woolf's fiction to her work as a theorist of gender and the modernist novel. The focus will be on key aspects of Woolf's modernism, such as her interest in new forms of realism, her experimental approaches to narration, character and consciousness, and her exploration of the relationship between time and space. At the same time, we will also pay close attention to the broader historical, cultural and political contexts of British modernism.

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 15 April for the autumn semester and 1 October for the spring semester.

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 English coursework (80 ECTS) is required.

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

Objective of the course

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has advanced knowledge of the typical features and concerns of literary modernism, and the particular historical, social and cultural contexts of British modernism.
The student has a thorough understanding of the required primary texts and knows how to relate them to the broader contexts and concerns of British modernism.
The student has a strong understanding of the key thematic and stylistic concerns in Woolf's writing.
The student has significant insight into the selected critical approaches to Virginia Woolf's writing.

Skills

The student can discuss the syllabus literature using relevant theoretical concepts in a precise and independent manner.
The student can conduct independent research into a chosen aspect of Virginia Woolf¿' work and present it in a clear, coherent manner, in both oral and written form.
The student can evaluate, engage with, and incorporate secondary sources into his or her own research, with critical insight.
The student can relate his or her own research to existing critical approaches to Woolf's writing.
The student can use academic English confidently, in both spoken and written form.

Language of instruction

Language of instruction and examination: English.

Teaching methods

13 weeks of teaching and academic supervision. Teaching will take the form of lectures, seminars and student presentations. Supervision will be given digitally and as tutorials.

Assessment

Coursework requirements:

Each student must:

hand in an academic blog of approximately 1000-1500 words and write a response to another student's post (min. 200 words);
hand in a draft of the research paper (min. 7 pages; 1.5 spacing, font size 12). The draft must include an introduction in which you present your topic and research question, a close reading of at least two primary texts, and references to at least three secondary sources.
give an oral presentation on an assigned topic (10-15 min.).

The coursework requirements must be approved before the student can submit the term paper.

Exam:

A research paper of approximately 12-15 pages (1.5 line spacing, font size 12).

Performance in the course will be assessed with the grades A-F. Grades are A-E for passed and F for failed. A re-sit examination is offered in the event of an F grade. The deadline to register for a re-sit examination is 15th January for the autumn semester and 15th August for the spring semester.

Date for examination

Take-home assignment hand in date 17.12.2019

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.