From Jane Austen to the Brontës: Female Agency in Women`s Writing - Einzelansicht

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This course aims at discussing a range of novels and texts by or about British women writers between 1750 and 1850 under the viewpoint of feminist literary criticism. The focus will be on women's agency, the influence of feminist theory on women's writing over the years, as well as historical contexts and circumstances influencing women writer's of the above-mentioned time period.

This course will be reading-intensive and regular attendance as well as active participation in class will be expected. 

We will read the following four novels in this course:

• Jane Austen's Emma
• Maria Edgeworth's Helen
• Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre
• Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton

Please begin reading Emma already as this will be the first novel discussed. Helen is available as an e-publication, the other three books are available at most second-hand bookshops.

Further texts and reading material will be provided on Moodle. Please enrol in the course before attending the first session.

2/3 ECTS

You will be expected to write an essay of approx. 4,000 words. Throughout the seminar you will learn to formulate a thesis, develop a structure, research the appropriate literature, and, in the end, produce said essay, which will be concerned with an aspect of the topic in general or a specific sub-topic we discuss. Said thesis, structure, and literature choice will have to be handed in over the course of the semester so that you can develop your essay as we move through the topic. This is compulsory in order to pass this course.

In addition to this, you are expected to prepare for each session to enable you to take part in in-class discussions and exercises. You will also be encouraged to provide feedback to others while you yourself will also be given feedback by members of the class. 

6 ECTS

If you are taking this course as a 'b-Seminar' you will be required to write an additional module paper of approx. 6,000 words. This may or may not be connected to the topic of this course. If you plan on writing this module paper, please approach me before or after class or send me an email with an idea of the topic you would like to discuss.