Introduction to Literary Studies CLIL 2 3301-L1ILS-CLIL2
The second part of this two-semester course is a compulsory component of the first-year English Studies programme.
The course is designed to familiarise students with key literary terminology, language tools, and rhetorical frameworks essential for conducting critical analyses of literary and cultural texts. With a focus on poetry, drama and performance, narrative fiction, and adaptation studies, it also provides practical guidance on writing critical essays, as well as reviews of theatrical and screen adaptations. Topics covered include interpreting essay questions, structuring essays and paragraphs, and mastering academic writing style. In addition, the course offers extensive practice in using spoken and written English for academic purposes.
Overall, the course introduces students to the scholarly methods required for the academic study of literature. It equips them with foundational terminology for critically approaching literary texts and presents essential frameworks that will support their engagement with more advanced courses in the future. The programme is divided into three main sections: poetry, drama, and narrative genres.
In the poetry section, students explore the principles of scansion and meter, alongside key poetic devices and genres that facilitate the analysis of diverse poetic forms, such as the sonnet. Selected poems are studied to provide opportunities for developing analytical skills.
The drama section begins with a close reading of Aristotle’s "Poetics." Its primary aim is to complement the introduction to Elizabethan theatre offered in the History of English Literature course. Students examine the cultural and social background of sixteenth-century theatre, analysing a selected Elizabethan play together with its stage and film adaptations.
Finally, the narratology section introduces students to basic terminology and analytical procedures used in the study of narrative fiction. Selected prose texts are analysed to apply the acquired knowledge in practice. Throughout the course, students also engage with theatrical and cinematic adaptations of the dramatic and narrative works under discussion.
BA programme
Type of course
Course coordinators
Mode
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: