Does literary studies have a history, and if so of what kind? In this course we will focus on and contextualise one pivotal moment, method or text in the history of literary studies as a discipline. This course will involve a rigorous case study in the development of a specific interpretative practice, an in-depth study of a specific critical community and/or a deep dive into the contexts and communities surrounding the creation, production and reception of a single text. Through placing critical practices within their social, political and historical context, students will gain a broader and deeper understanding of the debates that have shaped and continue to impact literary studies today. Topics could include but are not limited to: histories of rhetorical and poetic theories; histories of contesting canons; review cultures; literature and ethics; the production and reception of Shakespeare's work; Modernism and close reading; book clubs, fan cultures and the institution; the threats and promises that social media and AI bring to literary criticism. As this is a research-led course, the approach and focus will be shaped by the research specialisms of the convenor.
In 2024 this course will be run as a 4-week intensive over the winter break from Mon 24 June-Fri 19 July.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- research the relationship between social, political, historical contexts, and interpretive practices;
- understand important debates regarding how literature is evaluated, interpreted, shared and preserved;
- critically evaluate different methodological practices and theoretical frameworks for analysing literary texts; and
- identify the significance of critical communities to shaping research methods and theoretical frameworks in literary studies.
Other Information
This course will be run as a 4-week intensive during the winter break from Mon 24 June-Fri 19 July.
Indicative Assessment
- 1 x 15-minute oral presentation (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- 1 x abstract and essay plan (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- 1 x 4000 word essay (60) [LO 1,2,3,4]
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) 12 hours of contact with instructor over 3-4 weeks (2-3 x 2 hour seminars)
b) 118 hours of independent student research, reading and writing (approximately 15-20 hours per week).
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Readings will change according to topic/s covered in the course.Specialisations
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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
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.
Winter Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6632 | 24 Jun 2024 | 21 Jun 2024 | 05 Jul 2024 | 06 Jul 2024 | In Person | View |