6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1023264ANR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department
Linguistics and Literary Studies
Educational team
Elisabeth Bekers (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
30 contact hours Lecture
5 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
90 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This survey course studies the development of literature in English since the Middle Ages and how it relates to the broader cultural and political histories of English-speaking regions. It highlights the diversity of literature in English by examining shorter texts that are representative of different literary periods, movements, genres and styles and by paying special attention to women writers and writers of colour from across the English-speaking world. It also introduces the most significant literary-historical concepts and literary terms.

Course material
Handbook (Required) : The Norton Anthology of English Literature. The Major Authors, Vols. A & B, Greenblatt, Stephen, ed., 10th, Norton, 9780393603118, 2018
Handbook (Recommended) : The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vols. 1 & 2, Levine, Robert S. ed., Shorter 10 ed., Norton, 978-0-393-8844, 2022
Handbook (Recommended) : English Literature in Context, Poplawski, Paul, ed., 2nd, Cambridge University Press, 9781316506639, 2017
Handbook (Recommended) : The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga, Updated annually, Atlantic Books, 9780333962589, 2013
Handbook (Recommended) : A Brief History of English Literature, Norton Critical Editions, Peck, John & Martin Coyle, 2nd, Palgrave, 9781137352668, 2013
Handbook (Recommended) : Dracula, Bram Stoker, Norton, 9781137352668, 2013
Handbook (Recommended) : The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, Baldick, Chris, 4th, Oxford University Press, 9780198715443, 2015
Digital course material (Required) : Course slides, Bekers, Elisabeth, Updated annually, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Writing Guide for Students of Literature in English (TALK), Bekers, Elisabeth, et al., Updated annually, Canvas
Additional info

Interactive lectures are accompanied by reading assignments that guide the students’ home preparation as well as the discussion in class. Active participation in the lectures and seminars is essential.

In order to take this class, compulsory additional costs may be charged in addition to the invoice sent to you as a student by the Student Administration Centre: for participation in literary events off campus a minimum contribution of  €5 and a maximum contribution of €15 will be required. The costs are borne by the student and can neither be passed on to fellow students nor recovered from the lecturer or faculty. The amounts stated are approximately correct. If you experience payment difficulties as a result of these additional costs, you can contact Student Social Services via sociale.dienst.studenten@vub.ac.be  or + 32 2 629 23 15More information can also be found on https://my.vub.ac.be/en/social-services.

Learning Outcomes

General competences

The students gain insight into the development and diversity of literature in English since the Middle Ages and how it relates to the broader cultural and political histories of the British isles and (former) colonies. They are acquainted with the most significant literary-historical concepts and literary terms and learn to analyse and interpret literary texts as well as to report on their interpretations.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: “Written exam in January determines 60% of the final mark; written exam in June determines 40% of the final mark. Pass marks (at least 10/20) for either part of the evaluation are transferred automatically to the second session.”

    “Students who have successfully completed the 2BA course “Literature in English: 19th to 21st Centuries” by the start of the second semester of 2022-23 may receive alternative assignments in the second semester, to accommodate the exceptional partial overlap between the two courses in 2022-23.”

Additional info regarding evaluation

Pass marks (at least 10/20) for either semester are automatically transferred to the second session. In the second session the weight and format of the exams may differ.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: German-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: French-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: French-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-English (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Spanish-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Italian-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: German-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Engels (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Engels (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Engels-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Engels-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Dutch-English
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-German
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-French
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-Italian
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-Spanish
Bridging Programme Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Teaching in Languages: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies: one language - TTK (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies: two languages (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies: one language (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies: one language - after third lng (only offered in Dutch)