Literary Landmarks in English

Course Description

Description
This course contributes to the profile of the Modern-Language student who majors in English by helping him gain a deeper knowledge of a small number of authors whose work has been central to the development of literary culture, and whose influence has been particularly strong on their successors. It is also intended that the student comes to a good understanding of the historical context in which the selected authors produced their works.

Pre-requisites
- Knowledge of useful and precise critical terminology as well as stylistic terminology.
- Oral and written competence in English (C1)
- Bibliographic skills appropriate to the discipline, including accurate citation of sources and consistent use of conventions in the presentation of work.

Contents
1.- Shakespeare and his world. A study of Macbeth.
2.- The rise of the novel. Cultural, social and historical background. First novelists.
3.- English Romanticism. Cultural, social and historical background. New theories of poetry. Romantic poetry.
4.- Romanticism and the novel. A critical study of major texts.
5.- The Victorian age. Cultural, social and historical background.
6.- The Victorian novel: major features. A critical study of major texts.

Methodology
The following teaching-learning techniques will be used:
- Ppt presentations of theoretical perspectives, background information. etc.
- Close reading of specific sections from both scholarly and literary texts and follow-up discussions of the topics therein represented in the classroom.
- Exposure to audio and visual materials to activate and reconstruct the knowledge of the contexts (historical, etc) in which the texts were written and read.- Preparing a term paper on a text covering some of the themes in the course.
- Brief presentations in groups about readings (fictional or scholarly)
- Working on the study questions at home and, then, reporting on them in class.
- Tests and on-the-spot exercises on the reading materials.

Assessment
The assessment of the students’ work will be progressive and formative. It will include the following:
- Participation in discussions, study questions, assignments, tests: 30 %
- Oral presentations and term paper: 30 %
- Results of final exam: 40 %

N.B. Students will only get credit for this course if: a) they sit for the two tests on the appointed day, b) make their individual and group presentations, and c) they receive a passing mark in the final exam.