This course examines eighteenth and nineteenth-century literature in the context of Western, and especially British imperialism. Questions we will ask include: what is empire and how does it shape literature? How does the work produced in the centre of empire imagine colonial spaces, and how does writing at the peripheries speak back to empire? How can literature question, and how can it shore up imperialist ideas? How does eighteenth and nineteenth-century literature respond to the atrocities of slavery? How does it treat First Nations' sovereignty? How do the legacies and structures of empire continue today? We will read work by canonical and marginalised authors. Texts we will examine will include memoirs written by enslaved people; British imaginings of Australia prior to the First Fleet and an eighteenth-century novel told from the perspective of First Nations American woman. We will read these complex works alongside theoretical work on empire by critics such as Edward Said and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- critically apply knowledge concerning the historical and cultural contexts to the literature of this period;
- learn and critically apply postcolonial theoretical methods;
- speak and write analytically about literary texts in the context of British and European imperialism; and
- respectfully participate in a critical community and collaborate with peers in order to develop their skills of literary critical analysis.
Indicative Assessment
- 3000 word essay (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Tutorial Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Essay preparation task (500 words) (15) [LO 1,2,3]
- Presentation task (7 minutes + handout) (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Theory task (1000 words) (20) [LO 1,2,3]
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) 36 hours of contact: 24 hours of seminars and 12 hours of tutorials.
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Texts may include:
The Woman of Colour
The Female American
The History of Mary Prince,
Further details will be available on Wattle.
Assumed Knowledge
The knowledge and skills acquired from completing two English courses successfully.
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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
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.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8699 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |