contemporary literary theory: intertextuality, parody, the burlesque. Margaret Atwood.

This course aims at familiarizing students with formal experiments in the contemporary English novel. The students’ critical and analytical skills should ideally be improved.

Formal experiments in the contemporary English novel will be analysed on the basis of theoretical texts and will be situated in a broad cultural context. A narratological analysis of four novels by the Canadian author Margaret Atwood forms the starting point of an investigation into the manner in which contemporary authors interweave popular and elitist literary genres so as to challenge the boundaries of the novel.

To have successfully completed at least one of the "English Literature III" courses or to have acquired the necessary skills by other means. Students should also have sufficient interpretative ability and be familiar with methods of literary analysis.

To be acquainted with some concepts with which formal experiments in contemporary fiction can be described. To be able to analyse literary texts on the basis of the supplied theoretical texts.

A reader with theoretical texts by a.o. Linda Hutcheon; Patricia Waugh; Rosemary Jackson; …

Surfacing. Virago, 1994
The Robber Bride. Virago, 1994
The Blind Assassin. Virago, 2001.
The Penelopiad. Canongate Books, 2008.

Interactive lectures. Students will be expected to have read the texts ahead of time.

Permanent evaluation and written exam

Written exam with open questions