Universität Wien

123226 SE Literature Seminar / BA-Paper / MA American/North American Lit./Studies (2016W)

Migrating Across the Atlantic in American literature 1875- 1975

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

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. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Participants in the seminar will be invited to attend lectures given by experts at an international conference on "Ideas Crossing the Atlantic" on the weekend Friday, Dec. 2 to Sunday, Dec. 4. As (one or two) seminar sessions in November will have to be canceled, attendance at these lectures will serve as a substitute for the canceled sessions.

  • Wednesday 05.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 12.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 19.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 09.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 16.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 23.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 30.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 07.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 14.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 11.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Saturday 14.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 18.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 25.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The decades after the American Civil War saw a dramatic increase in transatlantic crossings, with thousands of Americans returning to the countries of origin of their ancestors eager to see the cultural treasures of the Old World, and hundreds of thousands of European immigrants seeking a new home in North America. The development of the international novel in those years mirrors the former phenomenon, while autobiographical texts, books of fiction and essays reflect the latter collective experience in the 20th century. In the seminar the literary form as well as the historical, biographical and cultural contexts of these (fictional) texts will be analyzed.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participants would submit a written seminar paper of 20-22 pages and offer an oral presentation. Regular attendance, active class participation and two written reports on seminar sessions of up to two pages (with one of them alternatively on (two or three) lectures given at the international conference related to the seminar theme) will be expected. There will also be a final written essay test.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students will have to be familiar with significant texts mirroring the many transatlantic encounters and the resulting awareness of the differences in institutions and cultural habits in the other hemisphere. They should understand the numerous challenges for migrants seeking a new home in North America while confronted with prejudices against their ethnicity, but also the difficulties of American travelers with unfamiliar customs and norms in the countries of the Old World.

Examination topics

Student presentations of research papers on the topics chosen, general discussion of the texts contained in the Reader, including narratives by Abraham Cahan, Anzia Yezierska, as well as excerpts from a novel by Henry Roth representing the experience of Jewish Americans, and excerpts from an avantgarde novel by J. Dos Passos illustrating the fortunes of immigrants of several ethnic groups, plus the two selected short novels by H. James.

Reading list

Most of the stories, two pertinent essays and excerpts from two novels to be considered in class are contained in a Reader to be acquired at Copy Studio. In addition, students are expected to acquire copies of Henry James' short novels 'Daisy Miller' and 'The Europeans'. A reserved shelf (Handapparat) with selected texts and some relevant studies will shortly be accessible on the upper floor of the departmental library. A list of topics for seminar papers will be published shortly.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612, MA 844;
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.4-322, BA 10.2, MA5, MA7;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0264

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33