Universität Wien

120112 SE Literary Seminar / BA-Arbeit / MA British/Irish/New English (2011S)

Contemporary Irish Women Writers and the Opposite Sex

11.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 18 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 07.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 21.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 28.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 04.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 11.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 02.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 09.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 16.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 23.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 30.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 06.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 20.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Monday 27.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Contents: In this seminar a novel and eight short stories by Irish women writers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries will be interpreted, including works by Edna O'Brien, Maeve Binchy, Julia O'Faolain, Julie Parsons, Claire Keegan, Marisa Mackle, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne and others. The texts selected will not only offer interesting insights into the process of social, moral and religious transformation that has taken place in Ireland over the past forty years, but also address significant modifications in gender roles as perceived from the perspective of Irish women writers. The works of fiction will be read chronologically (i.e. according to the chronology of the historical background in which a narrative's action is set). The critical discussion will encompass both the "discourse level" and the "story level", but the main focus will be on the literary representation of Irish masculinity and specific versions of man-woman relationships in the context of Ireland. The characters described are from diverse social backgrounds and from rural as well as urban milieus. The narratives are all rooted in the long-standing tradition of Irish realist fiction and represent various generic formats. They include works of fiction intended for an educated readership as well as specimen of popular fiction ("chick lit") written for a mass audience.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment: regular attendance throughout the semester, active participation in the discussions in class; submission of one seminar paper in English (10.000 words; BA thesis 11000 words), which must be an authentic work written by the participant individually (no group work!); one PPT presentation of about 20 mins (individually or as a member of a group); a final essay (700 words+) to be written in class. Deadline for submitting the seminar-paper: strictly no later than one week after the presentation. A feedback will be given within two weeks after submission.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Aims: To familiarize students with different types of narratives by contemporary Irish women writers; to advance students' interpretative skills and their ability in the literary analysis of fictional works; to develop further their competence in the contextualized reading of literary works; to develop students' awareness of cross-cultural differences; to advance students' abilities in writing research papers and to perfect their proficiency in written and oral English.

Examination topics

Methods: Interactive teaching, computer-aided and supported by multi-media presentations; introductory lecture unit to provide guidelines for students' presentations, one teaching unit on "Irishness"; cooperative teaching units with students' presentations (PPT) and plenum discussions.

Reading list

Texts: Eilis Ni Dhuibhne's novel "Fox, Swallow, Scarecrow" (Dublin: Blackstaff, 2008) is available at Amazon (Euro 10,99); a master-copy of the short stories will be provided early in March (it can be picked up at the Copy-Studio, Schwarzspanierstrasse 10).

Association in the course directory

Studium: Diplom 343, UF 344, BA 612, MA 844;
Code/Modul: 322, 326/328, 336/338, 721-723, 821, BA12, MA4, MA7;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0216

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33