Learning outcome

The student is to develop the ability to realise the significance of cultural and literary history not just for modern Britain, but for all the countries that have been connected with the British tradition. The student is also expected to enhance his/her ability to reflect critically, in oral as well as written form, about the topics of the course. Finally, the students are expected to achieve a basic knowledge of central writers and their works, together with cultural currents from the period in question, and thus be able to orient themselves and develop further their own knowledge in the field.

Course Description

From the Renaissance onwards, Britain developed a rich and comprehensive literary tradition, which proved important far beyond the country's borders. At the same time, the country went through major cultural and political changes. The core of the course is a selection of primary texts of poetry, fiction and non-fiction from this period of nearly four hundred years. The texts will be placed within their historical context through survey lectures, but will also be discussed as individual works. The majority of the texts will be from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The teaching is organised as lectures and seminars, with altogether four hours per week. The lectures will provide background to the subject areas in question, but will also be used for analysis of pensum texts. The seminars will be used for discussions of pensum texts, and will focus on active participation from the students, with a particular emphasis on improving the students’ oral competence. An attendance rate of at least 75 per cent is required for the seminars

Telemark University College collaborates with other universities and university colleges about the Norwegian Study Centre in York, and the students will have an obligatory two-week stay at the Centre. This forms a part of the practical language training and of the study of British literature and society. Students who are prevented from going to York can apply for an exemption, but will instead be given a two-week written project. The project needs to be given a pass for the student to obtain a pass mark in the course. On certain conditions, the State Educational Loan Fund may offer an additional loan to cover part of the expenses of the stay. Total fixed expenses (travel, board and lodging, course fees) will probably be around NOK 6,000”.

Assessment Methods

The final written examination will be assessed on a scale from A to F, where E is the lowest pass mark, and F is a fail. An attendance rate of at least 75% in the seminars is required to sit the final exam.

It is a prerequisite for the completion of the course that the students hand in a written paper. The paper is not graded and does not count towards the overall grade, but must be approved by the course instructor.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean