Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

Same pre-requisites apply as for the master's programme in English or the 2-year master's programme in Primary Teacher Education.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge: upon successful completion of this course students will be able to

  • understand significant developments within literary theory in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
  • understand ways in which meaning in literary works depends on the critical approach
  • understand the processes and results of literary analysis from different theoretical perspectives

Skills: upon successful completion of this course students will be able to

  • apply concepts from literary theory and literary criticism in the analysis and interpretation of texts
  • locate critical literature of carious inds and evaluate and use such material in the interpretation of literary texts
  • add theoretical insight to the literary analysis in their master theses

Contents

This course provides an introduction to a variety of modes of critical interrogation that have come to be called "theory": structuralism, deconstruction, psychoanalysis, Marxism, postcolonial theory, gender and queer theory, for example. The course will also examine the relations among theory, literary criticism, and the humanities.

Examination requirements

Students must complete and pass one compulsory essay (c. 2000 words) and one obligatory oral presentation

Examinations

4-hour written examination. You are allowed to use an English-English dictionary on the exam. Graded assessment.

Student evaluation

The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1.

Offered as a free-standing course

Yes. Subject to availability.

Admission for external candidates

No

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course Reduction of Credits
EN-400 – Core Course in English. 7.5
EN-455 – Literary Theory & Analysis. 7.5
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 5:55:43 AM