ENG4319 – Critical Approaches to Nathaniel Hawthorne
Course content
This course addresses different approaches to the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne from the perspective of literary theory. The syllabus is made up of Hawthorne's four novels and a selection of his short stories, and will be studied in relation to the critical discourse surrounding these texts, with an eye towards discovering and problematizing systematic differences in methodology between diverse schools of literary theory; the writings of feminist and new historicist critics will be particularly prominent as source material.
Learning outcome
The students will become familiar with Hawthorne's fictional universe. A further objective of the course is to develop an understanding of the systematic differences between a selection of schools of literary theory, and to problematize the application of these theories in the study of Hawthorne's texts.
Admission
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The minimum number of attendants for this course is 3, the maximum 10.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
For studenter utenfor litteraturprogrammet kreves det at man har minst 20 sp engelskspråklig litteratur, engelsk språk eller kulturkunnskap.
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English
Teaching
The course is taught throughout the semester with 2 hours per week, 28 hours in all. Half-way through the semester there is a period of one (autumn term) or two (spring term) reading weeks without teaching, to be used for individual study and work on assignments.. The students are supposed to attend the course regularly.
Examination
The students will be called upon to give an oral presentation (pass/fail) on an assigned topic, and to write a seminar essay of 10 standard pages. Assessment is based on the essay, and it may form the basis for the writing of the Master's thesis later on. Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the two consecutive semesters when the course is given.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Other
Med et noe utvidet pensum vil emnet kunne telle 15 studiepoeng (hovedemne) i gammel studieordning.