ENG4373 – Multicultural Literature in English
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course is an examination of modern and contemporary English literature through the lens of multiculturalism.
The focus of the course will change from semester to semester, foregrounding different sets of literary texts by writers concerned with issues of race, identity, and the multicultural dynamics of the English-language world.
Possible topics include:
- Race and sexuality
- First Peoples’ literature and cultures
- Jazz and African American literature
- Cultural politics
- Immigration and literature
- Asian American literature
- Hispanic literature and culture
We will read a variety of literary genres, including novels, plays and creative non-fiction, by writers who are concerned with issues of colonialism, race, language and identity within multicultural societies. Some of the important questions we will address are:
- What are the concerns of so-called "ethnic" writers in contemporary cultures of the English-language world?
- What is the relationship between identity politics and literature?
- How can we use critical race analysis as a part of literary study?
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you:
- will have knowledge of English-language literature by analyzing texts written by authors who openly challenge the literary canon, and who furthermore acknowledge the race and class divisions at the heart of English-language cultures.
- will have an understanding of the relationship between politics, identity, and the place of literature in a range of contemporary English-language societies.
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.
This course is for students admitted to European Languages (master) and UVM5-LEP,?masterspesialisering i engelsk. Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with ENG2333 – Multicultural Literature in English.
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for 10 weeks, 20 hours in total.
- Students must submit a preliminary draft of your term paper by a stated deadline. The preliminary draft must be at least 2000 words (excluding footnotes/bibliography), that is, approximately 5 pages written out in fluent prose, and containing the introductory paragraphs. You will get feedback on both the language and content of your draft.
All obligatory attendance and assignments are only valid the semester you attend the course.
Examination
The assessment of the course is based on a term paper of approximately 4500 words (excluding footnotes/bibliography).
You can either choose your own topic or select from a list of suggested topics. In any case, you will be expected to develop a thesis statement ("problemstilling"), to be approved by the teacher.
The paper should make use of at least three different secondary sources (material published by an academic press or journal).
Students will be offered individual term paper supervision.
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.
Resit an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
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.