Universität Wien
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123041 PS PS Literary Studies (2024S)

Reworking Myth in Contemporary English Literature

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 19.03. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 09.04. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 16.04. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 23.04. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 30.04. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 07.05. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 14.05. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 21.05. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 28.05. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 04.06. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 11.06. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 18.06. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 25.06. 12:15 - 13:45 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The term “myth” evokes a multitude of associations. While colloquially it is often synonymous with lies, in this course, we will look at myths as powerful, enduring and meaning-making stories. The usage of myth is almost ubiquitous across all genres and media. The most dominant strand among them in contemporary anglophone literature is Greco-Roman mythology.

In this class, we will take a closer look at how Greco-Roman mythology is reworked in contemporary novels, short stories and poetry. Following Linda Hutcheon’s approach to adaptation studies, we will focus less on the fidelity of the new texts to a presumed original and instead analyse how and to what effect these texts rework their chosen myths. We will, among others, read representative examples of feminist and young adult re-tellings, examining and questioning the dominance of Greco-Roman myths for the self-conception of Western patriarchy.
Close readings of the primary texts will be supplemented by secondary literature on conceptualisations of myth itself and on Greco-Roman mythology in particular. We will also revise various analytical methods and theoretical approaches, and students will have the chance to further develop their analytical and academic writing skills, as well as gain basic theoretical tools for the critical analysis and interpretation of literary texts.

By the end of the course, students will be able to …
… develop a contextualized understanding of characters and motifs from Greco-Roman mythology.
… contribute to the discourses surrounding myth and its relevance today.
… write longer academic papers in literary studies.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students are expected to read the material for each session and to actively participate in the classroom discussions. These discussions can take on various forms of work, from debates over group work to creative engagements with the texts.
Each student has to do one expert task that will train academic research skills and the oral presentation of key findings. The portfolio includes three written tasks over the course of the semester. This portfolio allows students to practice different methods of critical literary analysis – including creative approaches.
Finally, all students have to write their proseminar paper, analysing chosen reworkings of myths independently, combining all skills above.
Oral and written tasks will both be graded according to the grids introduced in the first session. Creative writing will be assessed on a passed/failed basis and will be peer-reviewed.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Active Participation: 10%
Expert Task (annotated bibliography & oral presentation): 20%
Portfolio (creative writing, research questions, thesis statement & preliminary structure): 20%
Proseminar Paper (3,500 words): 50%

Students must fulfil and pass each of the course requirements and score at least 60 % altogether in order to pass this course.
Grading Scale:
1: 100-90%
2: 89-80%
3: 79-70%
4: 69-60%
5: 59-0%
You may miss a maximum of two classes (i.e., two times 90 minutes).
The plagiarism detection software Turnitin will be used on written assignments.
Generative AI is only allowed as specified for certain tasks and has to be thoroughly documented.

Examination topics

Participants are expected to study set materials and additional secondary/theory sources, take active part in the discussions, and fulfil all tasks.

Reading list

Primary Literature:
Budden, Gary. “Enfield Town in the mist as the Asphodel Meadows.”, from London Incognita, Dead Ink, 2020.
Duffy, Carol Ann. The World’s Wife: Poems. Picador, 1999.
Miller, Madeline. Galatea: A Short Story. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022.
Riordan, Rick. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. Puffin, 2005.
Ovid. Metamorphoses. 8.

Secondary Literature:
Bremmer, Jan N., and Andrew Erskine, editors. The Gods of Ancient Greece: Identities and Transformations. Edinburgh University Press, 2010.
Coupe, Laurence. Myth. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2009.
Fantham, Elaine. Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Oxford University Press, 2004.
Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2013.
Marciniak, Katarzyna, editor. Our Mythical Childhood...: The Classics and Literature for Children and Young Adults. Brill, 2016.
Thury, Eva M., and Margaret Klopfle Devinney. Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2017.

All primary texts as well as additional secondary texts will be made available via Moodle and or/ the Semesterapparat in the university library. It is however recommended to procure a copy of Percy Jackson for yourself.
The list above may be subject to changes.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BA 612; BEd 046 / 407
Code/Modul: BA10.1; BEd 08a.1, BEd 08b.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-3041

Last modified: We 06.03.2024 10:26