Universität Wien

123231 AR Literature Course (interactive) (2017W)

The Plays of Samuel Beckett (Group A)

1.50 ECTS (1.00 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

  • Thursday 12.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 19.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 09.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 16.11. 16:00 - 18:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 23.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course is designed as an exploration of stage plays written by Beckett later in his career, following the success of the earlier 'absurdist' dramas Waiting for Godot, Endgame and Happy Days. A central objective is to follow in these short plays the trajectories taken by recurrent themes such as voices resounding in the head, fighting back and/or piecing together memories, or the omnipresence of the torturing external gaze. Moreover, close attention will be paid to the way in which Beckett’s drama often stretches its medium to the utmost limit: it will become manifest how radically Beckett changed the face of modern drama with his fundamental experiments. The course will combine textual analysis with an examination of the performative aspects of the play text and the specific forms of dramatic communication utilised.Classes will feature screenings of productions of all the plays under discussion.

Course Syllabus
12 Oct - Introduction
19 Oct - Krapp's Last Tape
9 Nov - Play
16 Nov - Not I; That Time (extended session: 120 min.)
23 Nov - Footfalls

Assessment and permitted materials

Attendance and active participation in course discussions (a maximum of two absences will be allowed); teaching plan focused on one of the plays under discussion; final essay.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Attendance and active participation in course discussions: 25%
Submission of a teaching plan focused on one of the plays under discussion: 25%
Final essay: 50%

Examination topics

Students will be expected to know in detail all primary texts covered in class.

Teaching Plan
Students will be asked to devise an outline of a teaching plan for a lesson focused on one of the plays discussed in class. They will be expected to consider particularly the challenges involved in teaching difficult and enigmatic texts such as Beckett's late drama, and work with the fact that the play text is only one aspect of experiencing the play in performance.

Final Essay
Essay topics are chosen by the students; however, they must be consulted with the course instructor in advance of writing. The essay should be a research paper of 2500-3000 words, based on the study of appropriate secondary sources and including references and bibliographical details for all works cited or paraphrased (if in doubt, please consult the course instructor). Any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a fail grade.

Submission deadline (for both the teaching plan and the final essay): 14 December 2017. Please submit your work in a hard copy. Early submissions will be accepted.

Reading list

Primary Texts
- Samuel Beckett, Krapp's Last Tape
- Samuel Beckett, Play
- Samuel Beckett, Not I
- Samuel Beckett, That Time
- Samuel Beckett, Footfalls
All available in Samuel Beckett, The Complete Dramatic Works

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344;
Code/Modul: UF4.2.4-323;
Lehrinhalt: 12-3230

Last modified: We 09.09.2020 00:22