Universität Wien

123044 PS Literary Studies / Proseminar Literature (2019S)

Visions of London in Victorian Fiction

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

in preparation

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

Monday 11.03. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 18.03. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 25.03. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 01.04. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 08.04. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 29.04. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 06.05. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 13.05. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 20.05. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 27.05. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 03.06. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 17.06. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Monday 24.06. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

'There’s no place like London', Sweeney Todd exclaims in Stephen Sondheim’s musical adaptation; and indeed there are many Londons to explore. This course will be dedicated to some of the different visions of London present in Victorian fiction. The 19th century witnesses the massive growth of what became the world’s largest city by 1825, and the Victorian era itself sees London’s population more than tripled in the span of 60 years. Capital of the British Empire, symbol of Great Britain’s growing industrialisation, or monster swallowing people in wretched living conditions, we will examine the different ways that the city has been imagined by Victorian writers by engaging in a critical reading of five key texts of the era. The importance of the historical background to the texts we are studying will be a regular focus of attention as we consider the dark aspects of early Victorian London (Dickens), the mysteries of Victorian serial fiction (Braddon), the fin de siècle urban Gothic (Stevenson), the detective and the Empire (Conan Doyle), and a satirical take on the London society (Wilde).

In this course, participants will gain a knowledge of some important texts of the 19th century, as well as an understanding of how a variety of writers have responded to significant historical events and contexts. The course will also enable participants to develop their practical skills in the critical analysis of literary texts, and will tackle the basic techniques of academic writing, such as how to formulate a research question and how to structure a paper.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance (a maximum of two absences is possible) and active participation in classroom discussion and group work; regular preparation of assigned reading material; active in expert team providing input for one session in the term; research proposal; final paper.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- Active participation in classroom discussion: 10%
- '10 facts on…' task: 10%
- Expert input during one session: 15%
- Research proposal (800 words) and annotated bibliography: 15%
- Proseminar paper (3500 words): 50%

Points must be collected in all of these categories. Students must attain at least 60% to pass this course.

Marks in %:
1 (sehr gut): 90-100
2 (gut): 80-89
3 (befriedigend): 70-79
4 (genügend): 60-69
5 (nicht genügend): 0-59

Examination topics

Contents covered throughout the semester. Participants are expected to read all set texts plus the additional secondary/theoretical material provided, participate actively to the course, and hand in assignments on time. There will be no written exam.

Reading list

Primary texts:
1) Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
2) Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Birds of Prey (1866) (selected chapters)
3) Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist (1837-39)
4) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of Four (1890)
5) Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886)

The primary texts will not be studied in chronological order, but in the order provided here, in order to allow students more time to read the longest one, Oliver Twist. It is recommended to start reading the texts before the semester starts.

Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Dickens’s Oliver Twist, Conan Doyle’s The Sign of Four and Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde are available to buy at Facultas am Campus.

Braddon’s selected chapters chosen for this course will be available on Moodle.

Secondary literature:
excerpts will be provided in digital form on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612; BEd 046 / 407
Code/Modul: UF 3.3.3-304, BA10.1; BEd 08a.1, BEd 08b.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-3041

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33