Introduction to Literary Studies CLIL 1 3301-L1ILS-CLIL1
The first part of this two-semester course is a compulsory requirement for first-year English Studies students.
The course aims to familiarise students with key literary terminology, language tools, and rhetorical frameworks essential for conducting a critical analysis of literary and cultural texts. Focused on poetry, drama and performance, narrative fiction, and adaptation studies, it includes a practical guide on writing critical essays, as well as theatre and screen adaptation reviews. Topics covered include interpreting essay questions, essay and paragraph structure, and academic writing style. The course also provides extensive practice in using spoken and written English for academic purposes.
Overall, the course serves as an introduction to the scholarly methods required for the academic study of literature. It aims to equip students with foundational terminology for critically approaching literary texts and to introduce essential frameworks that will support their engagement with more advanced courses in the future. The course is divided into three broad sections: poetry, drama, and narrative genres.
In the poetry section, students are introduced to the principles of scansion and meter, along with essential poetic devices and genres that facilitate the analysis of a wide range of poetic forms (e. g. the sonnet). Selected poems are discussed to provide opportunities for developing analytical skills.
The drama section begins with an in-depth exploration of Aristotle's "Poetics." The primary objective is to supplement the introduction to Elizabethan theatre covered in the History of English Literature course. This section delves into the cultural and social background of sixteenth-century theatre, analysing a selected Elizabethan play and its theatrical/movie adaptations.
Finally, students are introduced to basic terminology and analytical procedures in narratology. Selected narrative texts are examined to apply the acquired knowledge in practice. Throughout the course, students also explore screen and/or theatrical adaptations of selected dramatic and prose texts.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: the graduate has familiarity with
K_W01 advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and religion studies within the domain of English Studies with a particular focus on key literary terminology, language tools, and rhetorical frameworks essential for conducting a critical analysis of literary and cultural texts.
K_W07 advanced structures, lexis and conventions of spoken and written English
Abilities: the graduate is able to
K_U01 apply advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and religion studies within the domain of English Studies with a particular focus on key literary terminology, language tools, and rhetorical frameworks essential for conducting a critical analysis of literary and cultural texts
K_U07 use structures, lexis and language conventions appropriate to the communicative situation (e.g. holding a public debate, giving an academic presentation, etc.) in spoken and written English at the minimum level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Social competences: the graduate is ready to
K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources
Assessment criteria
Final grade is based on the submission of academic essays (3-5) and on other forms of assessment (e.g. written tests, active participation, presentations) specific to the curriculum. The final grade also includes a language component, which accounts for 25% of the overall assessment. This component evaluates the use of varied and precise vocabulary, diverse and accurate sentence structures, grammatical correctness, spelling, punctuation, pronunciation, coherence and cohesion in speech and writing.
-- written assignments and tests (verification of outcomes: W, U)
-- oral contributions (verification of outcomes: W, U, K)
-- carrying out tasks during classes (verification of outcomes: W, U, K)
No more than three absences are allowed.
Bibliography
Paul Fussell, "Poetic Meter and Poetic Form" (excerpts);
Sh. Rimmon-Kennan, "Narrative Fiction" (excerpts);
Aristotle, "Poetics" (excerpts);
other texts chosen by course instructors.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: