Universität Wien

123220 SE Literature Seminar / BA Paper / MA British/Irish/New English (2013W)

A Rough Guide to Samuel Beckett

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

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. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 08.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 15.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 22.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 29.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 05.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 12.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 19.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 26.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 03.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 10.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 17.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 07.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 14.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 21.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Tuesday 28.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In 1998 Samuel Beckett’s "Waiting for Godot" was voted "most significant play of the century" in a poll organised by the Royal National Theatre, London. Beckett, who lived the best part of his life in France, wrote a considerable portion of his oeuvre in French, because he thought it was thus easier 'to write without style'. Before he found his own voice, Beckett had shown all the symptoms of an anxiety of influence vis-à-vis his literary Übervater, James Joyce. Beckett hence became a "no-canner". The trajectory of his work accordingly emphasises the themes of "failure" and minimalism, not, however, with a strong note of dark and grotesque humour. Without a doubt Beckett is one of the icons of 20th-century literature and drama and one of the pioneers of the Theatre of the Absurd whose influence on 'high' culture as well as popular culture can hardly be overestimated.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance, active participation in class, PowerPoint presentation, research paper (20-25 pp.), final (written) test.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

In this seminar we will study a representative selection of Beckett texts (in English) from a variety of genres, e.g. plays for the theatre ("Waiting for Godot", "Endgame"), a radio play ("All That Fall"), plays for television, film (Film), poetry, and short fiction.

Examination topics

Class discussion of set texts; student presentations on selected topics.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612, MA 844;
Code/Modul: UF4.2.4-322, BA10.2, MA4, MA7;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0216

Last modified: Th 09.01.2025 00:16