Semesters: 7

ECTS: 4

Form of assessment: pass-fail exam

AIMS

• to develop understanding and appreciation of literaturary texts, critical terms and concepts;
• to develop knowledge and understanding of distinctive characteristics of texts written in principal literary genres;
• to introduce students to lives and works of most famous writers, playwrights, and poets

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course of study students should be able to:
• display in-depth knowledge of major literary texts that are characteristic representations of literary periods and genres
• summarize and evaluate attributes of major literary genres
• employ necessary skills of literary analysis
• display key research, writing and referencing skills
• analyze and correlate historical literary trends and features of world and Russian literature

CONTENT

Origins and development of literature. Origins of Indoeuropean literature: folklore, myths, fairy tales, folk songs.

European Literature of the Middle Ages. Epic poetry. Popular lyric poetry – court poets, bards, Minnesänger, troubadours. Chivalric romance. Birth of drama.

Renaissance literature. Aesthetic principles. Social and political background. Influence of Italian Renaissance on European literature. Development of poetry and drama. Humanism and reformation.

Classicism and neo-classicism in European literature. Impact of social events and military conflicts.

Enlightment in European and American literature. The Scientific Revolution. Historical aftermaths of the Englightment in Europe and America. Social and cultural consequences of the French Revolution.

Proto-romantic movement in European and American literature. ‘Sturm und Drang’ movement. Birth and development of sentimental novel and poetry. Gothic fiction, its popularity and longevity.

Romanticism and realism in European and American literature of the 19th century. ‘Lake poets’ in England. New sub-genres of novel: Victorian novel, social novel. Pre-Raphaelits movement. Neo-romantics. Decadence. Modernist literature. Transcendentalism in literature. Dark romanticism. Critical realism. Naturalism. Symbolism. Science fiction novel.

Literature of the 20th century in Europe and the USA. Modernism. Political writings. Existentialism. Psychological novel. Social protests in literature. Impressionism and symbolism. ‘Lost generation’ themes. Escapism. Pessimism. Neo-Freudian literature. Beat culture. World wars and cultural response. Anti-war and anti-fascist literature and poetry. Post-modernism.