Arrive at a good understanding of the history of literary theory, its subdivisions and its various theoretical paradigms. Discuss its objectives, its problems, and the place it occupies within the humanities. Develop the students' sense of intellectual rigour by stimulating critical epistemological and methodological reflection. Further improve knowledge of the English language.
See "Learning Outcomes".
After analyzing the complex relationships between the "scholarly" or "scientific" study of literature and various other ways of speaking about literature, the course covers the major trends in literary theory and their links with philosophy, sociology, linguistics, psychology, structuralism, ideology critique, etc.
“Author & Text”
“Introduction” of The Cambridge Handbook of Literary Authorship (Ingo Berensmeyer, Gert Buelens, and Marysa Demoor)
“Literary Text & Genre”
Moderation & Discussion “Introduction”, The Cambridge Handbook of Literary Authorship
“Branches & Literary Theories”
“Ideology and Narrative Fiction”, The Living Handbook of Narratology (Luc Herman and Bart Vervaeck)
“Scientific Study”
Moderation & Discussion “Ideology and Narrative Fiction”, The Living Handbook of Narratology
“History & Before the 19th Century”
David Almond’s Bone Music & Marco Caracciolo's “Child Minds at the End of the World”
“The 19th Century & Marx & Freud”
Moderation & Discussion Bone Music & “Child Minds at the End of the World”
“Autonomy & French Structuralism & Semiotics”
“Introduction: ‘House Rules’ – Reading with Authorial Instructions” (Tatyana Gershkovich)
“Poststructuralism & Room for the Reader”
Moderation & Discussion “Introduction: ‘House Rules’ – Reading with Authorial Instructions”
“The Ethico-political Turn”
Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center (bell hooks)
“Sociological Modes & Cognitive Models”
Moderation & Discussion Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center
Chopin Seminar
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Interactive teaching: Students have previously studied the chapter indicated in the syllabus. The teacher replies to questions from students and asks them questions in return. Extra examples and material for discussion are provided.
All groups provide a presentation on Kate Chopin’s The Awakening (to be purchased at Point Virgule). Group 1 Psychoanalytical Lens, Group 2 Feminist Lens, Group 3 Postcolonial Lens, Group 4 Ecocritical Lens, Group 5 Cognitive Lens.
Provide a critical reflection on your assigned academic article; i.e., a summary of the argument, a situating of the text in its scholarly context (period, paradigm, type of text), and a critical reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the text.
Evaluation criteria: presentation skills, level of English, clarity and relevance of summary, level of critical reflection and contextualization, quality of questions for class discussion.
All of the evaluation components must be fulfilled to pass for the course.
Coursebook, Literary Theory, available at "Réprographie"
Anthology, Literary Theory, available at "Réprographie"
Kate Chopin, The Awakening, available at local bookshop Point Virgule
PowerPoint presentations available on WebCampus
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Modern Languages and Literatures: German, Dutch and English | Standard | 0 | 5 | |
| Bachelor in Modern Languages and Literatures: German, Dutch and English | Standard | 2 | 5 |