ENG4453 - Jane Austen: Text and Context
Course content
The object of this course is to study Jane Austen’s six published novels both in their historical contexts and as novels which inspire considerable enthusiasm even by readers today. Thus the course will study the historical context (biography, economy, politics, position of women, etc.), engage itself in close readings of the texts to arrive at an understanding of Jane Austen’s style and narrative structure, discuss the novels’ reception today, as witnessed e.g. in the many film adaptations, and the relevance of her fiction to a modern consciousness.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will have:
- Gained an understanding of the period in which Jane Austen composed her novels, 1790-1817;
- Learned to analyse fiction: narrative structure, thematic development and style;
- Learned from a discussion of our modern reception of the fictional works of an earlier period and benefited from a discussion of such modern issues as feminism and cinematic adaptation
Admission
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Id does not exist in shared textAdmission to the master program in literature, LP or other suitable master programs.
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for ten weeks, 20 hours in all.
Regular attendance and active participation is required, e.g. in the form of two oral presentations or one oral presentation and one written essay.
Attendance is an obligatory class requirement (80%).
Access to teaching
Id does not exist in shared textExamination
A term paper of 10 standard pages (topic to be decided between teacher and student).
All written papers must be accompanied by a declaration concerning cheating Obligatorisk erklæring vedr. fusk
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
Id does not exist in shared textEnglish
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.
Explanations and appeals
You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.
Resit an examination
You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.
Withdrawal from an examination
A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.