Universität Wien

123043 PS PS Literary Studies (2025S)

Fantasy Short Fiction from the 19th Century to Today

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Tu 17.06. 14:15-15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05

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. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Please be aware that one double session will take place on Monday, 28 April from 9:45 to 13:00 together with PS Literary Studies "Complex Consumption - Approaching Gender, Race and Class via Food in Victorian Literature" (123042)!

  • Tuesday 11.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 18.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 25.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 01.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 08.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Monday 28.04. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 5, Kolingasse 14-16, EG00
  • Tuesday 06.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 13.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 20.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 27.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 03.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 10.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

When we think of “fantasy”, we often think of narratives sprawling entire series of novels, detailed worlds with their own history, geography, and languages, and epic adventures with a huge cast of characters. But what if instead of 3000 pages, there is only 3000 words to tell a fantasy story? In this class, we will examine how and with what effects short(er) and more condensed forms of fantasy fiction undertake this challenge throughout history: How do they define and are defined by the genre? And what does all of this have to do with folklore and myth?

We will start our journey with influential British writers of “fairy-stories” and epic/speculative poetry from the 19th and 20th centuries and end with current publications in anglophone online magazines such as Reactor and Strange Horizons. Close readings of the primary texts will be supplemented by secondary literature on definitions of fantasy.

We will also revise various analytical methods and theoretical approaches, and students will have the chance to further develop their analytical and academic writing skills, as well as gain basic theoretical tools for the critical analysis and interpretation of literary texts.

By the end of the course, students will be able to …
… develop a historically contextualized understanding of the fantasy genre.
… contribute to the discourses surrounding fantasy short fiction today.
… write longer academic papers in literary studies.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students are expected to read the material for each session and to actively participate in the classroom discussions. These discussions can take on various forms of work, from debates over group work to creative engagements with the texts.

Students have to do
- one creative task that will allow them to gain a deeper understanding of the writing process.
- one expert task that will train academic research and the oral presentation of key findings.
- one research portfolio containing several written tasks building on each other over the course of the semester.
- one proseminar paper, analysing a chosen short story or poem from the fantasy genre, combining all acquired skills and building on the preparations explained above.

Creative tasks will be assessed on a passed/failed basis. Please note that your creative output may be made available to your fellow students. All other tasks will be graded according to the grids presented in the first session.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Creative Writing: pass/fail
Active Participation: 10%
Expert Task (annotated bibliography & oral presentation): 20%
Research Portfolio (research questions, thesis statement, research proposal): 20%
Proseminar Paper (3,500 words): 50%

Students must fulfil and pass each of the course requirements and score at least 60 % altogether in order to pass this course.

Overall Score: 100 points max.
Pass-mark: 60 points

Grading Scale:
1: 100-90 points
2: 89-80 points
3: 79-70 points
4: 69-60 points
5: 59-0 points

You may miss a maximum of two classes (i.e., two times 90 minutes).
The plagiarism detection software Turnitin will be used on written assignments.
Any and all AI tools (for research, text generation, text revision, etc.) are only allowed if and only in the way specified for certain tasks! General guidelines will be discussed in the first session.

Examination topics

Participants are expected to study set materials and additional secondary/theory sources, take active part in the discussions, and fulfil all tasks.

Reading list

Primary Literature:
Christina Rossetti: “Goblin Market” (1862)
George MacDonald: “The Giant’s Heart”/“The Shadows” from Dealings with Fairies (1867)
J.R.R. Tolkien: “Mythopoeia” (1931)/“Leaf by Niggle” (1945)
Tanith Lee: “All the Birds of Hell” (1988)/“The Eye in the Heart” (2000)
Genoveva Dimova: “Ace Up Her Sleeve” (2024)

Secondary Literature (excerpts):
Attebery, Brian. Fantasy: How It Works. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Clute, John. “Fantasy.” The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant, Orbit, 1997, pp. 337–39.
Tolkien, J.R.R. “On Fairy-Stories.” The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays, edited by Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, 2006 [1983], pp. 109–61.

All texts will be made available via Moodle and or/ the Semesterapparat in the university library.
The list above may be subject to changes!

Association in the course directory

Studium: BA 612; BEd 046 / 407
Code/Modul: BA10.1; BEd 08a.1, BEd 08b.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-3041

Last modified: We 19.03.2025 14:05