ENG4472 - The Literary History of Sexuality
Course content
The object of the course is to study the interrelation between literature, history, gender, and sexuality during a specific period of American and/or British cultural life. The theoretical approach is a combination of new historicism and gender theory. We will consider literary texts not just as passive reflectors of some outlying reality, but as active participants in ongoing cultural debates and shapers of sexual ideology. Films may also be part of the syllabus.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will have:
- learned to analyze narrative structures in fiction, drama, and/or film and how they shape the perception of reality, particularly the representation of gender and sexuality.
- acquired an introduction to two important theoretical approaches to literature in recent years: new historicism and gender studies.
- gained a detailed understanding of how gender and sexuality were perceived in the United States and/or Great Britain during a specific historical period.
- received advanced training in scholarly writing.
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
Admission to the master program in literature, LP or other suitable master programs.
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for ten weeks, 20 hours in total.
Regular attendance and active participation is required, e.g. in the form of one or more oral presentations.
At various points during the semester there are reading weeks without teaching to be used for individual study and work on assignments.
Attendance is obligatory at least 8 out of 10 seminars.
Students are expected to participate actively in the seminar discussions, which are the basis for teaching. Students prepare by studying the primary texts and completing assignments they are given in class or that are posted in Classfronter. All handouts in connection with the course will be available in Classfronter.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The assessment of the course is based on a term paper of approximately ten pages. The topic for the term paper will be determined by the teacher and student together. Students are required to submit the term paper at an appointed time. Beforehand, students will be given an opportunity to submit a draft of the term paper and receive individual feedback on both the form and content of the draft.
The final version of the essay must be accompanied by a declaration concerning cheating Obligatorisk erklæring vedr. fusk
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
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.
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.
Evaluation
Feedback from our students is essential if we are to provide the best possible education. As a student at the University of Oslo you will be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses. Every time a course is given, we ask students to participate in mid-term evaluations, and periodically we ask them to participate in periodic evaluation of the course.