Syllabus for Literary Theory

Decisions and guidelines

The course is included in the Master's Programme in English.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course students will be able to

• Show a solid knowledge of the most important trends and tendencies in literary theory from classical theories of taste to recent work on post-theory;
• Show an ability to critically reflect on theories and apply them in the interpretation of literary texts;
• gather and process critical material;
• show proficiency in the use of critical material in a written literary analysis;
• show a good ability to participate, orally and in writing, in a discussion of literary works in fluent English.

Content

This course provides an introduction to the emergence, main currents, and uses of literary theory. Reviewing a broad range of theories - from classical poetics, over eighteenth-century discussions of taste, to contemporary reflections on post-theory, technomodernism, and surface reading -, the course encourages students to deepen their understanding of literature as an aesthetic object and institution and to enter into ongoing conversations on literary value, ideology, and the constitution of identities.

Instruction

Group sessions. Instruction, class discussions, and examinations are in English. All teaching materials are in English.

Assessment

Assessment takes the form of a final exam in the form of an essay at the end of the course. The final essay may be replaced by, or supplemented with, alternative assessment elements, such as shorter essays assigned during the course, journals, or portfolios. Grades are fail, pass, or pass with distinction.

Students who fail a regular examination will be offered a make-up examination within a reasonable period of time after the regular examination.

Students who fail an examination twice have the right to apply to the head of the department for permission to change examiners or examination forms.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Transitional provisions

Please contact the student counsellor for transitional regulations in connection with changes in the curriculum.

Other directives

If the curriculum or the course literature for a course module is changed, students have the right to be examined on the original curriculum and course literature on three occasions during the following three terms. After these three opportunities, the right normally expires. No other limitations apply regarding the number of examination opportunities.