HENK00003U English, 2017 curriculum - Free topic 3: History in Fiction from Richard II to Hamilton + Fact, Fiction, Autofiction

Volume 2017/2018
Content

History in Fiction from Richard II to Hamilton

Historical fiction, while attempting to uncover and dramatise the untold stories of the past, reveals as much about its moment of writing. This course examines a number of important historical plays and novels, introduces theory about historical fiction, and explores the themes of gender, power, memory, the act of writing and the uncertainties of the historical archive.

 

Fact, Fiction, Autofiction

What makes a novel feel true?  Is it fidelity to real events, or ways of writing and characterising that reproduce our experience?  Are time and space in novels like those in real life?  And how has truth-telling become a feature of recent fictionality?  This course will start with some recent examples of fiction that deliberately blurs the lines between fiction and reality -- Ben Lerner's, 10.04; Rachel Cusk's, Outline -- and move backwards to look at some earlier works that play with that distinction.  

History in Fiction from Richard II to Hamilton

Provisional primary reading list:

  • William Shakespeare, Richard II (preferably Arden or Oxford Classics)
  • Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (preferably Oxford Classics)
  • Hilary Mantel, Bring Up the Bodies
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton (Original Cast Recording; lyrics available on genius.com)

 

Fact, Fiction, Autofiction

Provisional primary reading list:

  • Ben Lerner, 10.04
  • Rachel Cusk, Outline
  • Chris Kraus, I Love Dick
  • James Joyce, Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man
  • Sterne, Tristram Shandy (extracts)
Classes, with particular emphasis on reading primary and secondary texts, oral discussion and developing proficiency in English.
History in Fiction from Richard II to Hamilton will be taught in weeks 37-43, four hours/week.

Fact, Fiction, Autofiction will be taught in weeks 44-49, four hours/week.

Plus one jonit class in week 50, four hours.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 353,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio, A joint portfolio for both courses uploaded in digital exam: Deadline January 10th 2018
• 1 essay (5-7 standard pages) due in week 41 for the ‘History in Fiction from Richard II to Hamilton’ course, ¼ of your final grade.
• 1 essay (5-7 standard pages) due in week 49 for the ‘Fact, Fiction, Autofiction’ course, ¼ of your final grade.
• A 10-minute presentation in a joint student conference for the two-course module in week 50. You may chose to present on material from either course, or give a presentation that combines the two courses. Synopsis, research questions, bibliography, powerpoint presentation etc. must be uploaded to Absalon one week before the day of the conference. The presentation + uploaded material will make up ½ of your final grade.
Criteria for exam assesment

http:/​​/​​hum.ku.dk/​​uddannelser/​​aktuelle_studieordninger/​​engelsk/​