Annotation
The overall aim of the course is to improve the students’ reading and writing skills and furnish them with critical tools for the interpretation of texts. The topics discussed include the basics of poetics, introduction to drama and theatre, the basics of narratology, and an outline of critical approaches to the literary text. The course also introduces the essential methodology of research.
Syllabi: lecture syllabus is attached as a pdf and is available on moodle. Seminar syllabi are provided by the seminar instructors on moodle.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Montgomery, M., et al., Ways of Reading (London: Routledge, 1992).
Green, K. and LeBihan, J., Critical Theory and Practice (London: Routledge, 1996).
Aristotle, Poetics (any edition).
Hobsbaum, P., Metre, Rhythm and Verse Form (Abingdon: Routledge, 1996).
Fludernik, M., An Introduction to Narratology (Abingdon: Routledge, 2009).
Lethbridge, S. and Mildorf, J., Basics of English Studies (English departments of the Universities of Tübingen, Stuttgart and Freiburg, n.d.), esp. Section 2.5 “Narrators and Narrative Situation”
Pavis, P., Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998).
Cuddon, A.J., The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory (London: Penguin, 1992).
Preminger, A. and Brogan, T.V.F., The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993).
ASSESSMENT
Double-subject Students
WS (zápočet): Attendance (max. 2 unexplained absences) and active participation in class, mid-term essay: interpretation of poetry (1 500 words).
SS (zápočet): Attendance (max. 2 unexplained absences) and active participation in class, mid-term essay: narrative analysis (1 500 words).
Criteria of Assessment: All assignments will be awarded a letter grade. Credit (zápočet) for each semester will be given on the basis of receiving a pass grade (i.e., A to C-) for both essay and participation.
Single-subject Students:
WS (zápočet): Attendance (max. 2 unexplained absences) and active participation in class, mid-term essay: interpretation of poetry (1 500 words), final test on poetics and genre definitions.
SS (zápočet, zkouška): Attendance (max. 2 unexplained absences) and active participation in class, mid-term essay: narrative analysis (1 500 words), final test on narrative strategies and approaches to text (literary theories).
Criteria of Assessment: All assignments will be awarded a letter grade. Credit (zápočet) for each semester will be given on the basis of receiving a pass grade (i.e., A to C-) for essay, test and participation each. The final exam grade (after the summer semester) will be calculated from the results in the individual assignments in the following manner:
Composition of Final Exam Grade for Single Subject Students
Participation winter semester 10%
Participation summer semester 10%
Essay winter semester 25%
Essay summer semester 25%
Test winter semester 15%
Test summer semester 15%
Value of Individual Letter Grades Awarded for Assignments 10% 15% 25%
A 10 15 25
A- 9 13.5 22.5
B+ 8.7 13 21.75
B 8.5 12.75 21.25
B- 8 12 20
C+ 7.7 11.5 19.25
C 7.5 11.25 18.75
C- 7 10.5 17.5
Conversion of Grades to an FFUK Grade
FFUK Grade Letter Grade Percent (%) Generally Accepted Meaning 1 A 96-100 Outstanding work
A- 90-95 2 B+ 87-89 Good work, distinctly above average
B 83-86
B- 80-82 3 C+ 77-79 Acceptable work
C 73-76
C- 70-72
F F 0-69 Work that does not meet minimum standards for passing the course