Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

English.

Recommended previous knowledge

It is recommended that EN-455 has been completed or is taken during the same semester.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students have knowledge of

  • important literary works and their interpretation through history
  • how literary texts and other artistic works have responded to various modern myths
  • theories about the role and significance of myths

Upon successful completion of the course, students can

  • describe and explain how new and ancient myths are relevant to modern literature
  • critically discuss concepts such as mythology, modernity, the classic, and adaptation
  • submit literary texts to close textual analysis

Contents

While mythology played a key role as a common storehouse of stories, ideas and ideals in ancient societies, it has been harder to unanimously define its role in modern society. While there is agreement that the natural sciences have caused a form of disenchantment, it is not clear that we do not still create stories that play a collective role similar to that of classical mythology. And even if their truth-value has changed, the ancient myths evidently still have a role to play in our culture, as is evident from examples ranging from James Joyce’s Ulysses to Rick Riordan’s book series for young readers. This course will address these issues via literary characters that may be said to have attained the status of modern myths, such as Robinson Crusoe, Faust, and Frankenstein. The course will involve interpreting classic literary works that have played a key role in solidifying or developing the image of such characters. It will also look at how these modern myths have been subject to recirculation, recalibration, and popularisation, through being subjected to for instance adaptation into other aesthetic forms of expression and changing historical contexts that have involved feminist and/or postcolonial reinterpretation. The course will also feature some modern retellings of ancient myths, for the sake of comparison

Teaching and learning methods

Seminars. Active and regular participation is expected. The estimated workload is approximately 270 hours.

Examination requirements

Students must attend 70% of the seminars and a mid-term essay (1500 - 2000 words) must be approved.

Examinations

An individual two-week home essay (circa 3000 words). Graded assessment.

Student evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 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.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 8:20:03 AM