INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Dear students,
welcome in Introduction to Literature course web-page. In this page, you can find all information and materials to pass the course with flying colours.
The most important documents:
1) MORE DETAILED LESSON PLAN & COURSE REQUIREMENTS (what needs to be done & when)
Please print & bring to lectures:
2) PPT Presentation (app. 110 slides, print 6 per page) - DO NOT PRINT sooner than 3 days prior to the beginning of the term
3) WEEKLY READINGS/TOPICS (to read for classes & the final test): for detailed info, see the lesson plan.
COURSEBOOK 1: THINKING ABOUT LITERATURE
COURSEBOOK 2: FRANKO:
READING ACTIVITY (10 points) 1-2-3 Deadline: Nov 24, 20:00 - e-mail to techer as instructed
sample - read first - do not send
For week 10, please, read:
2.2 In real life
2.3 In real life
WEEK 1 (21, 22/9): INTRODUCTION, COURSE REQUIREMENTS
TOPIC 1 What is literature? Literary Semantics: Approach(es) to Text (Relevant part of CB1: 1.2/pp.11-13)
TOPIC 2 How do we study & interpret literature professionally? (Relevant part of CB1: 14-15)
TOPIC 3 What does it mean to “know” literature? Epistemological Aspects and Cultural Identity of Literature (Relevant part of CB1: 1.2/pp.7-8)
TOPIC 4 Why do we read literature? What exactly happens when we read?
WEEK 2: (28, 29/9):
TOPIC 5 What are some major periods of English literature?
WEEKS 3&4 (5, 6/10 & 12, 13/10):
TOPIC 6 How do we categorize literary texts? What is genology?
WEEKS 5-6 (19, 20/10 & 26, 27/10):
TOPIC 7 LITERARY ANALYSIS OF Poetry (BASIC TERMINOLOGY): How can we analyse poetry?
WEEK 7-8 (2, 3/11 & 9, 10/11):
TOPIC 8 LITERARY ANALYSIS OF PROSE: How can we analyse prose?
WEEK 9: NO CLASS ON WEDNESDAY (17/11):
TOPIC 9 LITERARY ANALYSIS OF DRAMA: How can we analyse drama? (CB1 p. 63)
WEEK 10: (24/11):
TOPIC 10 How can we interpret literature?
WEEK 11 (1/12): THE LAST CLASS UNLESS REPLACEMENT NEEDED
TOPIC 11 What are some profesional methods for analysing literature (critical approaches, schools, etc.)? (Relevant part of the CB1: 65-69)
The end of classes: EXAM PERIOD: (written test via Moodle)
Also interesting (just read, no need to print or bring to class:
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Ignore - this is just a databank of previously used activities, Valid for school year 2020/21
NEW! 20-POINT VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY FOR FINAL SCORING posted 28/1/2020 - deadline 4/11/2020 10:00pm:
SAMPLE ACTIVITY - READ FIRST BUT DO NOT SEND
GRADED ACTIVITY 1-2-3 - SEND THIS TO jana.javorcikova(at)umb.sk
NEW! Literary Genres: What is Genology? added 7/10/20 pp. 1-10.
Please print or bring to lectures:
1) PPT Presentation (app. 110 slides, print 6 per page)
Also interesting:
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Valid for school year 2019/2020
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Valid for School year 2018/10
PPT SLIDE SHOW - for your reference
Exam instructions:
1) Bring 10 abstracts (numbered as in the powerpont above), each with your full name legibly written. (E.g. Martina Nováková, PT, Aj-SJ). NO PLASTIC COVERS PLEASE. (use paperclip - kanc. spinka)
2) If applicable - bring maximum 3 theatre tickets (each with your full name legibly written; E.g. Martina Nováková, PT, Aj-SJ)
TEST = 30 points.
MAXIMUM FOR THE LITERARY PART: 50 POINTS
Good luck in your exams, Jana Javorčíková, your instructor.
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Instructions bellow this line are dated valid only for those who started their studies in 2015.
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School year 2017-2018: winter term: instructions, materials:
OK- works now - please complete and bring to class:
Also interesting: For attendance in the theatrical performance Neplač Anna - 2 extra points. Present your ticket to your instructor, ideally, on October 30, Monday (10-12:00AM, room 034 - my office). If that does not work for you, bring the tickets to your final test in December, January.
Sample front page for your essay (compulsory; the UMB logo is obligatory)
(Think of a nickname you will use on the cover page, e.g. Oliver Twist, Captian Kirk, etc. - your points will be pulished via this web-page).
Sample essay (not available)
Sample text with my commentary
(NOTE: this is NOT an essay but a 1st draft of a Bachelor thesis which, I feel, you might find useful when writing your essay. The original text is black, my commentary is red.)
2017 STUDENTS: DO NOT READ ANYTHING BELLOW THIS LINE EXCEPT FOR FAQ:
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(Valid as of December 12, 2016) Approaches to literary texts (Read for the exam)
Sample Front page for your essay (1 page)
FAQ - Some of you addressed me with e-mails which, I think, can be interesting to all the students. Read more:
Q8 - Late essays can be collected on December 14, 10:00-11:00 in my offce (023, Tajovského 40). Yes, a trustworthy friend can take your essay.
Q7 - HOW TO SUBMIT RE-WRITTEN ESSAYS: If you have to re-write your essay, see the powerpoint presentation above (last slides). You only rewrite ONE ESSAY, THE ONE WITH MY NOTES on it. Deadline: January 5, 2017; you can send them by snail mail, postal stamp: January 5. If you think you are able to rework your essays earlier, you can also submit them on December 20 (9:00-10:00 am), after 10:00 you can leave them with the secretary (room 032, Ms. Biresova).
YOU CERTAINLY CANNOT SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY AFTER JANUARY 5, 2017 (unless seriously ill, etc.).
Q6 - What is the format of my essay? ANSWER: Times New Roman, font 12, space : 1,15 OR 1, 5. Pages numbered, STAPLED (I will not accept any loose papers), front page completed (see sample front page for more info). IMPORTANT: Deadline for both essays is TUESDAY, December 6, 2016; 8:15. Anything submitted later qualifies as LATE and will be penalised by minus 10% off your final grade/per day. If you cannot make it to the class, please send your essays with a friend. Anticipate problems: printers jamm last minute, computers freeze, etc. It is safer to have your essays printed THE NIGHT BEFORE.
FREQUENT MISTAKES = PAGES NOT NUMBERED, LOOSE PAPERS, BIBLIOGRAPHY MISSING OR SERIOUSLY INADEQUATE (IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO REFER TO THE WEB PAGE ONLY), TITLE MISSING, SECTIONS (SUMMARY, ANALYSIS, ETC.) PRESENTED IN MUMBLED ORDER OR MISSING AT ALL - ALL THESE WILL RESULT IN RE-WRITING YOUR ESSAY WITHOUT FURTHER READING.
Q5 - Can I write an analysis of Hemingway´s Soldier´s Home? ANSWER: Yes, but you have to include all the details from the story, not only those we menioned in class.
Q4 - Can I use the play Mother Figure for my analysis? ANSWER: NO, that was done in the seminar.
Q3 - What space, font should I use for the essay? ANSWER: font: Times New Roman, 1,15 or 1,5 spaced, stapled, no plastic covers, etc. Number your pages. Bibliography should be printed on a separate page.
Q2. How many essays do we write for the course? ANSWER: Two - a poem and a play OR a poem and a short story OR a short story and a play (you pick the works from the pre-selected list - it was distributed in class 1 and 2). Further comments: I have to follow your "infolist" where there are two essays as a must to obtain a grade. Tough luck.
Q1 - When are the essays due? ANSWER: In the week of December 5-9. Possibly, later (Dec. 12-16) - I will specify later but stay alert.
Note to the red-haired student - you made quite a few good points today :) Detto the guy in the back row :) and the dark-haired person in the middle :)
Note from the teacher to that (male) student in the third (now first) row who seems to be sleeping in my classes: Please have your narkolepsia checked, it is really not advisable to sleep in classes BEFORE you get your grade.