autumn 2017 ENG-2101 War and Literature - 10 ECTS

Type of course

The course may be taken as a single course.60 ECTS from 1000- level is recommened or equivalent studies and exams from first year studies in English.

A good command of oral and written English is required. 


Course overlap

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-2101 The American War in Vietnam 10 stp

Course content

How does literature relate to the context of war? What are the relationships beteween the texts' form and content to the conflict with which they interact? How do aesthetics and ethics interact under the pressure of artistic autonomy, historical crises and different allegiances? Do such texts have significance beyond their own historical situation? These are some of the questions that will be discussed in a selection of primary texts and concomitant critical and theoretical discourses, primaryily with a focus on poetry and fiction from Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Objectives of the course

After the end of the course, student should: 

Knowledge

The student has: 

  • thorough knowledge of the primasry text on the syllabus. Students should be able to identify the text, to analyse them, and to relate them to their different criticalperspectives and contexts.
  • command over how the primary texts relate to criticalreviews, theoretical perspectives and ethical debate.
  • acquired general knowledge and facts of the war orhistorical conflict from which the text stem.
  • the ability to meditate upon the position of literature in the human condition and civilizatory crisis.
  • some idea of how this course relates to their studies in literature and their progress un the programme.

Skills

The student is able to: 

  • improve academic skills in demonstrating their acquired competence in variety of oral and written situations and media
  • activate advanced vocabulary and relevant terminology in their own presentations, scholary discussions and written submissions.
  • skills in orienting the acquired specific knowledge from thiscourse to similar types of literature and ethical concerns in other contexts of war and conflict.
  • intermediate level of researching and making use ofprimary texts, secondary literature and relevant databases.
  • academic standards for further bachelor and/or master studies.

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

Seminars, presentations, discussions, written exercise, and minilectures. The course runs for two hours a week most weeks of term.

Assessment

The following coursework requirements must be completed and approved in order to take the final exam: 

1. A one lesson (45 mins) mini-exam on thext analysis of a chosen text at midterm.

2. 4-6 pages essay on thext analysis in relation to larger concerns of literature, ethics and war towards the end of term.

Exam

A six-hour school exam will be assessed on a A-F grades scale. Grades are A-E for passed, and F for failed.

Retake is offered in the beginning of the following semester in case of grade F or fail. Deferred examination is offered in the beginning of the following semester if the student is unable to take the final exam due to illness or other exceptional circumstances. Registration deadline for retake is January 15th for autum semester and August 15th for spring semester exams. 


Recommended reading/syllabus

Primary syllabys: Anna Burns: No Bones, Brian Friel: Translations: Seamus Heaney: North, Andrew Motion: 101 Poems Against War, selected short stories and poetry. Secondary reading provided at start of term.

Error rendering component

  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: ENG-2101