120024 SE Literary Seminar / BA-Arbeit / MA British/Irish/New English (2010S)

The term intriguing is ambiguous, since it can refer to characters who are manipulative, scheming, involved in all kinds of cabals and liaisons, but also to figures who are interesting, mysterious and enticing. The heroines we will discuss in this seminar are both, fascinating personalities and involved in various plots and schemes. We will analyse the various images and evaluations of such "intriguing" women in English literature, from the 18th century to the present. The texts discussed will include Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders, Jane Austen's Emma, Kate Chopin's The Awakening and Margaret Atwood's The Robber Bride as well as the image of the femme fatale in one or two movies (which will be made available to the class).