ENG1303 – British Literature
Course content
The couse offers a broad introduction to British literature. Emphasis will be given to the distinctive characteristics of texts and the literary techniques employed in them. The texts will be studied in their literary-historical context.
To the extent that it is relevant, the texts will be studied in relation to their historical and social background.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you:
- have an overview of developments, periods, and central writers in British literature (conceived broadly) from the medieval period to the present day,
- can analyse literary texts in a variety of genres,
- can express yourself in appropriate academic English,
- can write an assignment that engages in literary-critical interpretation.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Lectures are open to the public. Seminar teaching requires admission to the course.
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English
Teaching
Lectures, 2 hours weekly for 11 weeks, and groups, 2 hours weekly for 11 weeks. 44 hours in all. 6 of the weeks of groups are with academic staff and 5 of the weeks are with learning assistants.
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A short writing exercise designed to help prepare you for the final exam.?Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements. Information about guidelines for obligatory activities.
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It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend at least 4 of 6 group meetings with academic staff and at least 2 of the first 4 group meetings with learning assistants. The requirement is absolute. The 5th learning assistant group meeting is not obligatory to attend, but highly recommended.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for special needs accommodations.
All obligatory activities must be approved in the same semester for you to sit the exam. Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the next two semesters that the course is taught.
As a full-time student you are expected to spend at least 12 hours a week studying for this course.
In group weeks, 2 of those hours are spent in groups with your group leader, 2 hours are spent attending lectures, and 8 hours are free for your own studies. In non-group weeks, 2 hours are spent attending lectures, and 10 hours are free for your own studies. You should be spending these hours reading, making notes on and reflecting on primary texts, exploring secondary texts and criticism, completing the assignments given by your group leader, and preparing to contribute your own viewpoints and ideas to group discussions. You may also want to spend some of this time working on discussing the course material with other students.
You are expected to come prepared to each group meeting. This means that you have completed the assigned reading and any other assignments given by your group leader.
ENG1303 consists of lectures, in which you learn about some central aspects of each primary text and its historical, cultural and/or literary contexts, and groups, which consist mainly of student-driven literary discussion. This means that while it is fine to prefer listening to talking, you should be prepared to contribute to discussions throughout the term. The more of your week you spend exploring the primary texts yourself (or in conversation with your fellow students), the more you will get out of the group meetings.
You are encouraged to support your reading of the course texts by exploring the university library's resources, both physical and online.
Examination
The obligatory requirements must be fulfilled in order to qualify for the exam.
The form of assessment is a 4-hour written examination.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
The results from the exam will be found in StudentWeb within three weeks after the exam.
Resit an examination
If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.