Annotation
OBJECTIVES
Dealing with the 20th and 21st Century Scots novel is still a major undertaking .Beginning with the literary renaissance , we will then consider the Glasgow novel and its generative archetypes. This course seeks to position many key texts and authors within the context of literary theories which while commonplaces of European literature are not consistently applied to Scottish texts.
MATERIAL
Some texts which will be under consideration:
James Kelman- The Busconductor Hines
Jeff Torrington-Swing! Hammer, Swing!
Ian Banks- The Bridge/The Wasp Factory
Alan Bissett-Death of a Ladies’ Man
Muriel Spark-Robinson
Alastair Gray-Lanark
Alan Warner-These Demented Lands
Irvine Welsh- Filth/Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs
Emma Tenant-Faustine
Janice Galloway- The trick is to keep breathing
George MacKay Brown- Greenvoe-
John Burnside-The Devil’s Footprints
ASSESSMENT
Requirements:
Two short papers (5-7 pp.) will be required (each counting for 30% of the grade), and there will be a final exam
(25% of the grade). MA students may either do these assignments or opt to write a 15-20 pp. term paper and be excused from the exam. Attendance at seminars is crucial, as discussion is needed to ensure understanding of the material, and participation in this discussion will count for 15% of the final grade.
Grading:
Paper 1: 30%
Paper 2: 30%
Final paper: 25%
Discussion: Seminar attendance and participation: 15%