Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

132023 SE Bibliotherapy - The history of therapeutic literature, therapeutic reading and writing (2025W)

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 13 - Europäische und Vergleichende Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work
Th 09.10. 11:30-13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12

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. 15 participants
Language: Hungarian

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 09.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 23.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 23.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 06.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 06.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 20.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 20.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 04.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 04.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 18.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 18.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 15.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 15.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 29.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12
  • Thursday 29.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Dissertantenzi. Inst. f. Finno-Ugristik, UniCampus Hof 7 2L-O1-12

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The aim of the course is to give students an overview of the therapeutic effects of literature and to introduce the methods of working with literature focusing on mental health. The history of therapeutic texts, from bedtime reading and fairy tales to herbal books and mood-enhancing poems to the theory and methodology of professional literary therapy, will be discussed first. Subsequently, students in the seminar not only deal with the health-promoting functions of reading and writing (stress management, crisis management, etc.), but also learn about the therapeutic potential of various fictional and everyday genres and analyze works in which medicine and trauma treatment are addressed. Together they will explore how literary therapy can be applied in personal communities (e.g. women's circles) and social settings (e.g. public schools, libraries, hospitals) and how it relates to other art therapy approaches (e.g. symbol therapy, music therapy).
The methodology of the course is based on interactive lectures and collaborative analysis of literary works in plenary, so that students can experience the practical benefits of literary therapy, its positive effects on psychological well-being and problem-solving skills, and how a literary therapy group works.
The seminar is aimed at students with sufficient knowledge of Hungarian!

Assessment and permitted materials

- Regular and active participation in the joint discussions
- 15-minute presentation on a literary-therapeutic application (https://www.irodalomterapia.hu/konyvek-cikkek.php)
- Written seminar paper of approx. 15-20 pages
This is an exam-immanent course: attendance is compulsory in the course.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The final grade is determined as follows:
- Regular and active participation in the joint discussions: 30%
- Presentation: 30%
- Seminar paper: 40%
All three partial grades must be positive in order to achieve a positive overall grade.

Examination topics

There is no exam at the end of the course.

Reading list

BOLDIZSÁR Ildikó, Meseterápia. Mesék a gyógyításban és a mindennapokban, Magvető Kiadó, Budapest, 2023.
BÉRES Judit, „Azért olvasok, hogy éljek”. Az olvasásnépszerűsítéstől az irodalomterápiáig, Kronosz Kiadó, Pécs, 2017.
BÉRES Judit, Élet a sorok között – Irodalomterápiás gyakorlatok mindenkinek, Libri Kiadó, Budapest, 2022.
GOMBOS Péter – VÖRÖS Klára, Könyv és lélek. Biblioterápiai tanulmányok, Magyar Olvasástársaság, Budapest, 2015.

Further texts will be made known in the course of the semester and/or made available on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

MAHF01, MAHF 04a, UF MA UN 01

Last modified: We 09.07.2025 09:25