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School of English LOGO

School of English - AUTh

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G-LSUD4 ENLIT459 The Subject in Fiction

G-LSUD4 ENLIT459 The Subject in Fiction

Elective | Teaching hours: 3 | Credits: 3 | ECTS: 6

Description

This class focuses on the ways in which literary representations of the human subject reflect changing ideas of identity in nineteenth-century Britain. It examines Victorian literature in the context of the discourses (ex. biology, philosophy, and new inventions) it was produced, and from which it drew in its conceptualisation of the ‘Self’. Special attention is given to “more-than-human-centric” perspectives by also drawing into focus the pivotal roles played by animals, the environment, and the natural world in shaping the subject. Students will be encouraged to explore the constitution, formation, and representation of the subject by examining parameters, such as species, gender, age, and social class, and become familiarised with the critical reading of literary works and their characters, tracing the mechanisms behind the construction of the ‘Self’ and the ‘Other’. Students will also learn to identify the ways in which literature has the potential of subverting the stereotypical assumptions of any given society and the factors that impede the personal growth and self-determination of the individual. The emphasis is on mid- and late-nineteenth-century British texts, which will be read in conjunction with contemporary readings of the subject, revealing their enduring resonance today and prompting a reassessment of the debates that they engage in within our dynamically evolving world.

Expected learning outcomes

Assessment

Final exam and optional research paper and/or oral presentation.

Teaching

SemesterGroupDayFromToRoomInstructor
Spring Wednesday18:30 21:00417 To be announced

Course files

Course Outline