Universität Wien
Lehrveranstaltungsprüfung

143069 VO Topics in African Literature: Past and Present (2025W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
DIGITAL

Montag 02.03.2026 13:00 - 15:00 Digital

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Prüfer*innen

Information

Prüfungsstoff

The socio-historical topics include for example re-writing colonial histories, anti-colonial nationalism, post-independence disillusionment and decolonization, the impact of neo-colonization and globalization on Africa, the criticism of African literature, the process of canonization, and the material aspects of publishing. The aesthetic topics concern for example style and genre, language choice, appropriation vs. abrogation, social realism versus modernism, and the influence of African orality and Western forms on the African novel. The philosophical topics to be explored include the role of the African writer and the function of literature in Africa, the construction of ethnic identities in literature, the clash between tradition and modernity, writing back to the centre, postcolonial hybridity, the representation of women by male authors, feminist discourses, the position of African literature in world literature, the questions of authenticity and audience, and the universal versus local. Framing the discussion will be the questions of the politics of identity and ownership of African literature and how African literature is related to and communicates with other literatures in the world.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Kind of exam: Written exam in class OR Argumentative essay.

The written exam (90 minutes) will consist of short essay questions. You have to choose 3. Each mini-essay should be app. 600 words. No aids are allowed.

The final essay (2500-3000 words) is an interpretive analysis of a literary work. It tests close reading skills, inference (deduction), ability to think critically and write argumentatively, make connections, and express opinions supported by evidence from primary and secondary sources. Topics will be given to choose from, as well as writing instructions and guidelines.

There will be 2 dates for class exam and 4 dates for essay submission. You can choose any date. The first exam date is on January 26, 2026.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Evaluation criteria for class exam:

The detection of the central points; clear formulation, structure and organization of the argument, supported with evidence from primary sources; the ability to identify, analyse and understand the theoretical, historical, and political context of the texts and make connections

Evaluation criteria for essays written at home:

1) Content (in particular detection of the central points; clear formulation, structure and organization of the argument, supported with evidence from primary and secondary sources; the ability to read text closely and interpret both form and content; the ability to identify, analyse and understand the theoretical, historical, and political context of the texts and make connections; the ability to reflect critically on the relations between primary texts and relevant secondary texts, instead of just citing secondary texts as a source of authority and interpretation; correctness of methodology; originality; creativity; scope or relevance of the secondary literature used and their methodologically consistent incorporation): Here about 60% of the points will be awarded.

2) Format (esp. layout, formatting, and citation practice): Here about 20% of the points will be awarded.

3) Language (particularly scholarly terminology and correct use of technical terms; clear and understandable language; correct spelling, grammar, and sentence composition; care about style): Here about 20% of the points will be awarded.

In all three areas at least 50% of the points must be achieved in order to obtain credit. The mark breakdown is as follows:

Excellent (1) 90-100 %
Good (2) 80-89 %
Satisfactory enough (3) 65-79 %
Unsatisfactory (4) 50-64 %
Fail (5) 49 -0 %
 

Letzte Änderung: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27