This course will introduce students to a wide variety of classic, modern and contemporary texts of World Literature written originally in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, and translated into English.
Students will be given an opportunity to engage with translations of significant poems, short stories, and novels of these major world languages, and the specific histories and societies in which they were produced and have been received. Texts will be analysed through a variety of theoretical perspectives, with an emphasis on world literature theory and transnational cultural studies, which will enable students’ consideration of big issues in the humanities, such as the relationship between literature and history, individualism and the world, the role of art in political struggle, authors’ relationship to the nation and the world (i.e., cosmopolitanism), and what is lost or gained in translation.
They will become acquainted with some of the world’s greatest writers and some of their major classic and modern works, potentially including Miguel de Cervantes, Jorge Luis Borges, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, Joaquim Machado de Assis, Clarice Lispector, Linda Lê, Italo Calvino, Roberto Bolaño, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Yoko Tawada among others.
Students will gain skills in literary analysis and postcolonial criticism to be able to critically engage with these texts' production, impact and reception across time and space, as well as the dynamics of power and inequality in the literary and publishing worlds. The course will be co-taught by literary scholars in Modern European Languages and English and will provide a unique opportunity for students to learn from experts with a diverse range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Please refer to the Class tab for details of the specific topic available each year, and the Class Summary for a detailed description including convenor, theme, format, scheduling, detailed assessment structure, and indicative readings.
Sample topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Modern World Literature in Translation (2027)
- Classical World Literature in Translation
- Postcolonial World Literature in Translation
- Regional Literatures as World Literature (e.g., Latin American or Asian World Literature)
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- critically analyse, discuss and/or write about a literary text or texts using a relevant theoretical approach;
- apply an understanding of the historical, cultural and linguistic context of a literary text to texts in translation and understand their unique contribution to World Literature; and
- reflect, discuss and engage critically and comparatively with literary texts across different cultural and linguistic origins and eras.
Indicative Assessment
- Participation and engagement (10) [LO 1,2,3]
- Mid-term in-class test (2 hours) (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Final exam (2.5 hours) (50) [LO 1,2,3]
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: 18 hours of lectures/seminars/workshops and 18 hours of tutorials;
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading, and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Prescribed texts will be listed on Canvas according to the authors studied in the course (this may change from year-to-year).
Assumed Knowledge
This course is run with multiple topics. You may enrol in this course if you have previously completed LANG2104 provided it was a different topic. If unsure, please contact the course convener.
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 |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $4620 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $6000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern World Literature in Translation | ||||||
| 5469 | 22 Feb 2027 | 01 Mar 2027 | 31 Mar 2027 | 28 May 2027 | In Person | View |