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43470-01 - Seminar: Auden and His Contemporaries (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2016 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Daniela Keller (daniela.keller@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Wystan Hugh Auden is considered one of the most important poets of the twentieth century and collaborated with writers such as Christopher Isherwood and Louis MacNeice. This BA seminar will focus mainly on Auden's (and his contemporaries') literary production between the wars, a period in which travel-inspired writing was very popular (see Thompson 2011; Fussell 1980) and led to the publication of "Letters from Iceland" (Auden and MacNeice) and "The Berlin Novels" (Isherwood). As Paul Fussell has pointed out, the interwar years were a phase in which Europe was "frontier-obsessed and, like Auden, map-mad" (Fussell 33). It will therefore be particularly rewarding, in light of today's relevance of national borders, to return to literary discourses of Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. Thus, this seminar will investigate the European landscapes that were explored at a time of political and social instability and a time in which passports were considered ridiculous (Fussell 25). Students will be asked to plan one session, to present their critical thoughts, and to lead a discussion. A detailed reading list will be made available on ADAM. |
| Learning objectives | Students will deepen their knowledge of genres (travel writing, poetry, plays, criticism) and learn more about the literary production of the 1930s. They will refine their analytical reading skills, their ability to present complex ideas and to form research questions. |
| Bibliography | The following texts need to be read and brought along to the seminar (to be continued on ADAM): - Auden, W.H. "Selected Poems". Ed. Edward Mendelson. London: Faber and Faber, 2009. - Auden, W.H., and Louis MacNeice. "Letters from Iceland". London: Faber and Faber, 1985. - Fussell, Paul. "Abroad. British Literary Traveling Between the Wars". Oxford: Oxford UP, 1982. - Isherwood, Christopher. "The Berlin Novels". London: Vintage Books, 1999. |
| Comments | It is recommended that participants read all the texts before the beginning of term. Apart from the general course requirements, they might also be asked to hand in written assignments. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | This seminar is for BA students on the advanced level: for BA05 students those who have completed their proseminar paper in Literary & Cultural Studies; for BA13 students those who have completed ALL three introductory modules (including the proseminar papers). |
| Course application | Please register by e-mail to daniela.keller(at)unibas.ch by February 15 as places are limited. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Advanced Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Extending the View (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Focusing on the Discipline (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Regular attendance and active participation (see 'Inhalt') |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |