Elective course:Literature and Art in England in the Renaissance and Baroque Period 3200-M2-PF-LSA
The course is intended to acquaint the students with selected cultural phenomena and literary texts, both those that locate the English Renaissance and Baroque in a wider European context and those that are unique to England.
1. The waning of the Middle Ages, the dawning of the Renaissance – chronology, breakthroughs, key historical events and cultural phenomena
2. Architecture of the English Renaissance – the Late Gothic perpendicular style, limited influence of the Italian Renaissance, features of the Tudor style in architecture
3. The Tudor dynasty and its issues – questionable rights to the throne, marital problems and the shortage of heirs
4. The Tudor dynastic propaganda 1 – Henry VII’s attempts to legitimize his rule, Henry VIII’s Great Matter
5. Paintings that must be read – Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors (1533)
6. The Tudor dynastic propaganda 2 – portraits of Elizabeth I: from the Virgin Queen to the Mask of Youth
7. The building, the actors and the audiences in an Elizabethan theatre
8. A comedy on an Elizabethan stage – William Shakespeare, “Much Ado About Nothing” (c. 1598–1599)
9. A new dynasty – on how the Stuarts won and lost the affection of their subjects
10. Art and architecture under the first Stuarts – portrait painting (A. van Dyck), architecture (Palladianism, I. Jones), the court masque
11. Art collecting – principles of artwork selection, organisation of a collection, presentation spaces, the Whitehall Group
12. The sermon – a characteristic literary form (J. Donne), performativity, theatricality
Student’s workload:
– contact (in-class) hours: 30 hrs
– individual work:
a) reading assigned materials: 10 hrs.
b) preparation for test: 10 hrs.
Total individual work: 20 hrs.
If in-class learning is impossible, the class will be conducted with the help of online communication tools (Zoom).
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE:
The student:
- knows the chronology, basic terminology and characteristic features defining the artistic styles in discussed periods (K_W02)
- is aware of the main events in the political history of discussed periods (K_W04)
- knows the leading English artists and authors of literary texts and is aware of contemporary cultural contexts (K_W10)
- has additional knowledge regarding the key social, historical and cultural phenomena connected with the emergence of the discussed artworks and texts (K1_W12)
SKILLS:
The student:
- can read and comprehend Renaissance and Baroque literary texts in English (K1_U01)
- can distinguish and identify the stylistic elements in a work of art, and the literary and stylistic elements in a literary text from the discussed periods, as well as acquire, individually or under teacher’s supervision, knowledge on the history of English art and literature (K1_U03)
- can formulate his/her own conclusions while interpreting discussed works and texts (K1_U10)
SOCIO-CULTURAL COMPETENCIES
The student is:
- aware of cultural differences between the art and literature of England and the European art and literature in the discussed periods (K1_K01)
- prepared to expand individually his/her knowledge of the history of English art and literature and his/her skills in reading and interpreting artworks and literary texts (K1_K02)
- participates in the cultural life of the Anglo-Saxon countries, is an aware visitor in a museum (K1_K03)
- appreciates the English cultural heritage and is aware of the value in preserving it (K1_K04)
Assessment criteria
Final grade is based on the results of the final written test, which consists of multiple-choice and open questions. The percentage of points from the exam determines the final score:
0-59%=2 (fail)
60%-68% = 3.0 (3)
69%-76% = 3.5 (3+)
77%-84% = 4.0 (4)
85%-92% = 4.5 (4+)
93%-98% = 5.0 (5)
99-100% = 5.0! (5!)
Failing the test results in receiving a failing grade in the USOS and the need to retake the test in the same form during the retake exam session.
Students are required to attend all the classes. Students are allowed two unexcused absences per 30 contact hours.
Bibliography
- William Shakespeare, “Much Ado About Nothing”
- a selection of literary texts and iconographic materials sent to course participants via email
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: