EN-461 Poetry and Translation (Spring 2025)
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Humanities and Education
- Course Leader:
- Charles Ivan Armstrong
- Lecture Semester:
- Spring
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- ½ year
Table of contents
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Advanced Teacher Education level 8-13, 5-year Master's Programme
- Translation and Professional Communication, Master's programme
- Master's Programme in English
Teaching language
English
Recommended previous knowledge
It is recommended that EN-455-1 has been completed or is taken during the same semester.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students can
- describe and explain characteristic features of poetry and translation
- subject the translation of poetry to critical analysis
- submit literary texts to close textual analysis
Contents
Poetry has often been described as untranslatable. Nevertheless, poems continue to be translated, with varying goals and degrees of success. This course will investigate poetic translation from a variety of perspectives. At the heart of the course will be practical, critical analyses of a number of poems and their translations, and the discussion of strategies of translation. A comparative perspective will be given, contrasting both the poetics of various writers and the choices made by different translators. In all cases, either the original literary text or its translation will be written in English. While most of the other texts in the course will be in Norwegian (or some other Scandinavian language), some examples of texts written in for instance German or French may also be addressed. In addition to analysis of translations, the course will also feature theoretical and/or historical engagement with the concepts of poetry, translation of poetry, and close reading.
Teaching and learning methods
Seminars. Active and regular participation is expected. The estimated workload is approximately 270 hours.
Examination requirements
One mid-term essay (1500 - 2000 words) must be approved.
Examinations
An individual two-week take home essay (circa 3000 words). 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, if there are places available.
Admission Requirement if given as a free-standing course
Identical to the admissions requirements for the programme.
Admission for external candidates
No.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem)
Oct. 15, 2026 7:23:25 AM