An Introduction to Literature in English (LENG115)

The English language has produced literature building on classical genres since the medieval period, but English literary traditions have been dispersed in several ways, as much as the language itself. In the 20th century, it became a lingua franca across cultures and contexts, used to express ideas and issues held in common. This course explores literary production in English against socio-historical British contexts in particular, emphasizing shifts in thought as well as genre innovation, medieval to modern. It introduces key texts, authors, and literary periods, exploring the relationship of texts to their contexts and considering multiple perspectives in the periods.


Course description for study year 2023-2024

Facts

Course code

LENG115

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

15

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

From the early 400’s to 1066, English was a language spoken only by a conquered people with a small body of literary texts. Since then, it has expanded and adapted - and adopted words from many languages. A range of aesthetic endeavours arose from these shifts and English has become a lingua franca across cultures today. This course explores literary production in English against socio-historical British contexts, emphasizing shifts in thought as well as genre invention, adaptation, and innovation, medieval to modern. The first half of this course focuses on pre-modern British contexts and literary foundations. The second half explores later periods and genres including works by contemporary British writers. Topics include freedom, heroism, the middle class, gender roles, and questions of authority/leadership, religion, scientific discovery, race relations, and colonialism. It introduces key texts, authors and literary periods exploring the relationship of texts to the periods from which they arose.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

At the end of the course, students are expected to possess knowledge of

  • the literary, historical, and cultural frameworks that the texts emerge from
  • modern and classic literary texts in English from different geographical areas
  • pre-modern and modern literary texts in English 
  • underpinnings, thoughts, theories of science, hermeneutics, and trends in literature in English from the pre-conquest period up to the present
  • literary studies methods and ethics of primary source work

Skills

At the end of the course, the student should be able to

  • analyse, understand, and explain modern and classic English literary texts from different periods
  • recognize formal features and discuss a variety of literary genres such as drama, poetry and prose and place them within a literary, geographical, social, and historical context
  • understand and discuss opposing views on literary texts diachronic and synchronic

General competence

At the end of the course, the students will be able to

  • express themselves in correct, varied, and precise English, about literature and culture
  • understand, discuss, and contextualize literary texts in English 
  • conduct precritical and critical analysis
  • express themselves in correct, varied, and precise English, about literature and culture
  • understand, discuss, and contextualize literary texts in English
  • write interpretive literary argument with standard conventions in the field

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Recommended prerequisites

The course presupposes a solid command of written and spoken English, good typing skills, and previous essay writing instruction along with in-text documentation as the basis of ethical data collection.

Exam

2 written home exams

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Written mid-term home exam 1/2 5 Hours Letter grades
Written home exam 1/2 5 Hours Letter grades

Students can bring exam aids as the instructor allows and specifies. Two written exams, mid-term and final. Students must pass both exams to earn a final grade in this course. English language and academic writing skills are taken into account in the grading, as well as the course content and any documentation of primary and secondary source material (if used).

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

Sigbjørg Bøe

Course coordinator:

Sonya Louise Veck

Course teacher:

Janne Stigen Drangsholt

Study Adviser:

Anne Marie Nygaard

Course teacher:

Sonya Louise Veck

Method of work

Lectures and group work.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
An Introduction to Literature in English (ENG115_1) 15
British and Irish Literature (ENG105_1) 10
English Literature after 1950 (ENG130_1) 5
Other Voices - Global English Literature (ENG130_2) 5
British Literature and Culture (HU0138_1) 5
British Literature and Culture (HU0138_A) 5
English Literature after 1950 (ÅEN130_1) 5
British and Irish Literature (MENG105_1) 10
Introduction to British and Irish Literature (ENG116_1) 10
Introduction to British and Irish Literature (LENG116_1) 10
An Introduction to Literature in English for lector students (LENG114_1) 15

Open for

Open to all students in the Advanced teacher programme at the Department of Cultural Studies and Languages.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course coordinator, the student representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto