This course provides a grounding in key historical and contemporary debates about the nature, purpose, methods and goals of literary study. Topics to be addressed may include: the challenges involved in situating texts in their historical contexts; the question of how texts generate a plurality of meanings beyond the limits of ‘authorial intention’; critical methods for analysing how texts encode or subvert ideas about class, race, gender and sexuality; the nature of textual representation and the relation between language and reality; the nature of literary genre and the role of reader expectation; the insights of book history into changing understandings of authorship, publication, reading and criticism; the impact of digital technologies on modes of literary circulation; and the use of new digital methods to examine literary production in ways that reshape traditional categories of text and author, and raise fundamental questions about originality and the archive.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an appreciation of the role played by theories and methodologies in the ongoing reframing of literary study;
- demonstrate an understanding of key historical and contemporary concepts and debates in literary theory and methodology; and
- evaluate and apply relevant theoretical arguments or methodological techniques to the analysis of literary texts or other literary artefacts.
Indicative Assessment
- (2000 word) essay (45) [LO 1,2,3]
- (2000 word) essay (45) [LO 1,2,3]
- Brief critical analyses written in class (10) [LO 1,2]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Not applicable
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3426 | 17 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 23 May 2025 | In Person | N/A |
