LFU:online

Institut für Anglistik Institut für Anglistik, Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg

Simone Broders Simone Broders

921043

821EN608x1
(Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg)

VU Einführung in die anglistische Literaturwissenschaft

VU 2

2,5

keine Angabe

keine Angabe

Englisch

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: - identify and explain key concepts, terminology, and methods of literary studies - distinguish between major literary genres and apply appropriate analytical approaches - analyse literary texts using selected critical perspectives and theoretical concepts - recognise the relationship between literature, literary history, and broader social and cultural contexts - critically engage with literary texts and formulate coherent, evidence-based interpretations and arguments - situate texts within broader interdisciplinary frameworks and recognise connections between literature and other forms of knowledge - develop competences relevant for future teaching practice, including critical thinking, interpretive skills, and awareness of cultural and social perspectives

Aimed at students in their first year, this lecture series familiarises students with the basic research questions, methods of analysis, and key concepts of literary studies, as well as with the relationships between literary theory (What is literature?), literary criticism (What does literature mean?), and literary history (How does literature develop?). Students acquire a comprehensive repertoire of literary terms and concepts that enables them to read critically, think analytically, and formulate well-founded arguments about literature. Literature does not merely hold up a mirror to society but also imagines both best- and worst-case scenarios of what society could be, offering perspectives that challenge and reshape our understanding of the present. This transformative potential led the British poet P. B. Shelley to describe poets as the “unacknowledged legislators of the world.” For aspiring English teachers and literary scholars, this course provides more than an introduction to the tools of literary analysis and the canon of English literature across ages and cultures. It lays the foundation for key skills encouraged by literature, including empathy, critical reflection, interpretive competence, and analytical thinking — abilities that remain highly relevant in an increasingly digitised and media-saturated world. The course introduces students to the three major literary genres (poetry, drama, and narrative texts) and familiarises them with selected critical approaches, including Gender Studies, New Historicism, and Post-Structuralism. Literary texts will be situated within British literary history to develop an understanding of literary movements, genre development, and the social, political, and cultural contexts in which texts emerge. The lecture series also highlights the dialogue between literature and other fields such as philosophy, history, media studies, and the natural sciences, encouraging students to understand literary texts within broader cultural and interdisciplinary contexts.

The course is designed as an interactive learning environment incorporating discussions, group analyses, and practical exercises. As literary competence develops primarily through active engagement with texts, students are expected to participate regularly in practical activities and to complete the assigned readings consistently. Regular preparation and active engagement with literary texts are essential prerequisites for acquiring the competencies addressed in this course. The course textbook (Meyer, Michael. English and American Literatures. 4th ed., Francke, 2011) serves as an important supporting resource; however, it cannot replace independent reading, engagement with primary texts, or active participation in class activities.

Final written examination (pass mark: 60%).

Textbook: Meyer, Michael. English and American Literatures. UTB Basics. Narr Francke Attempto, 2011. Primary texts in the order of reading: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The Arden Shakespeare Third Series. Ed. René Weis. Arden, 2012. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Katherine Linehan. Norton, 2003 (or other English edition). James Joyce, Dubliners. Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Margot Norris. Norton, 2006. (extracts) Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan and Other Plays. Ed. Peter Hollindale. Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford UP, 2008 (or other English edition of the play Peter Pan, not the novel!)

-