1122.02 - Literary History I

1122.02

Literary History I

10

The student is required to - acquire knowledge of Nordic and Faroese literary history - aquire skills to describe and analyze literature as a historical phenomenon - become familiar with literary history as a subject of research and teaching.

Nordic literature, fiction as well as non-fiction, from the Middle Ages to 1876 will be read. Literary-historical papers, dissertations, and articles about literature from the Middle Ages to the second half of the 19th century will be studied as well. Articles dealing with the social status of literature from an historical perspective will be read. In this connection, the concept of literary establishment, which comprises publishers, reviews, media, awards, etc., will be touched upon. The coursed study can be arranged according to chronology, periods, or according to historical "knots"; it can be arranged according to aesthetic, ideological, sociological or political and economical conditions as well as according to themes or genres. In the study, the texts are to be viewed in relation to their social conditions, to the medium which is their vehicle, to the institution, which distributes them, and their intended readership. For the examination the student is required to - describe the fictional and non-fictional texts in the examination requirements with regard to genre history - place and describe the texts as deriving from characteristics and trends in their originating period - account for various interpretations of these texts and point out how literary-historical judgement is characterized by the currents in scholarship and culture of its period. The student submits for the exam: A: Fiction and non fiction, and B: Literary-historical texts. A: FICTION AND NON FICTION: 4 fictional works and 15 short texts, 3 of the latter being non-fictional, or 3 fictional works, 1 non-fictional work and 15 short texts. The fictional works and short texts should be suitably varied with regard to dates of origin and genre. At least one fictional work must be Faroese. Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, (in Nynorsk and Bokmål) and Swedish literature should be represented with at least two fictional works and 5 short texts. B: LITERARY-HISTORICAL TEXTS: 3 literary-historical works, partly composed of articles, which both summarise and treat in depth Nordic literature of the period, including papers treating history of literature as a genre.

There will be 2 lessons a week over 2 terms.

The student can choose to 1: take an oral exam with half an hour preparation time. The student may bring the submitted works and notes with him/her when preparing. 2: write a paper at home on an issue chosen by the student.

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