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LA3515: LANDMARKS OF MODERN AUSTRIAN LITERATURE (2024-2025)

Last modified: 4 Days, 7 Hours, 12 Minutes ago


Course Overview

This course examines several landmark texts of modern Austrian literature. We will look at Schnitzler’s examination of bourgeois hypocrisy in Fräulein Else, Kafka’s dystopian novel Das Schloss [The Castle], Bachmann’s depiction of a female subject’s struggle for identity in Malina, and Bernhard’s critique of the long shadow of Austria’s past in Heldenplatz. We will examine the works’ social and historical contexts, as well as the authors’ innovative style and use of language.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Session Second Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Katya Krylova

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Either Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied) or GH1007 Gaelic for Beginners 1a (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will examine several landmark texts of modern Austrian literature and, indeed, world literature. We will look at Arthur Schnitzler’s examination of gender norms and bourgeois hypocrisy in Fräulein Else, Franz Kafka’s dystopian presentation of an individual pitted against a powerful and opaque bureaucratic apparatus in Das Schloss [The Castle], Ingeborg Bachmann’s depiction of a female subject’s struggle to overcome a personal and collective trauma in Malina, and Thomas Bernhard’s critique of the long shadow of Austria’s past in Heldenplatz. The works will be examined in their specific social and historical contexts (whether that is the influence of Freud’s ideas in turn-of-the-century Austria-Hungary, or the ‘first victim’ myth of postwar Austria), as well as focusing on the authors’ innovative style and use of language. Reference will also be made to the numerous film and stage adaptations of these canonical works. Students will be encouraged to work comparatively and draw connections between texts by different authors and of diverse genres. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st half-session courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 35
Assessment Weeks 39 Feedback Weeks 42

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Feedback

Essays are marked on the basis of specific marking criteria (as outlined in the course guide) and are returned with written feedback. Additional informal feedback on performance and seminar participation is offered in seminars. Tutors have office hours at which further feedback may be sought.

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandDevelop understanding of modern Austrian history and society through the study of diverse literary texts
ConceptualUnderstandGain knowledge and understanding of a number of key modern Austrian literary texts and authors, and the ability to situate these in their social and cultural contexts
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop skills in analysing literary texts
ProceduralCreateAssemble a coherent argument for presentation in oral and written work
ProceduralEvaluateImproved ability to evaluate and discuss complex ideas orally and in writing

Oral Presentation: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Length: 15-20 minutes

All presentations receive grades and are discussed individually within no more than 2 weeks. Additional informal feedback on performance and seminar participation is offered in seminars. Tutors have office hours at which further feedback may be sought.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandDevelop understanding of modern Austrian history and society through the study of diverse literary texts
ConceptualUnderstandGain knowledge and understanding of a number of key modern Austrian literary texts and authors, and the ability to situate these in their social and cultural contexts
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop skills in analysing literary texts
ProceduralCreateAssemble a coherent argument for presentation in oral and written work
ProceduralEvaluateImproved ability to evaluate and discuss complex ideas orally and in writing

Research Project

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 39 Feedback Weeks 25,42

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Feedback

Word Count: 3,000

In conjunction with the course coordinator, the student will develop an independent research project based on the course material. Supported through individual consultations with the course coordinator, the student will research and write a longer essay responding to the issues raised in the course.  

Essays are marked on the basis of specific marking criteria (as outlined in the course guide) and are returned with written feedback. Additional informal feedback on performance and seminar participation is offered in seminars. Tutors have office hours at which further feedback may be sought.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandDevelop understanding of modern Austrian history and society through the study of diverse literary texts
ConceptualUnderstandGain knowledge and understanding of a number of key modern Austrian literary texts and authors, and the ability to situate these in their social and cultural contexts
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop skills in analysing literary texts
ProceduralCreateAssemble a coherent argument for presentation in oral and written work
ProceduralEvaluateImproved ability to evaluate and discuss complex ideas orally and in writing

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 49 Feedback Weeks 52

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Essays are marked on the basis of specific marking criteria (as outlined in the course guide) and are returned with written feedback. Tutors have office hours at which further feedback may be sought.

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop skills in analysing literary texts
ProceduralEvaluateImproved ability to evaluate and discuss complex ideas orally and in writing
ConceptualUnderstandGain knowledge and understanding of a number of key modern Austrian literary texts and authors, and the ability to situate these in their social and cultural contexts
ProceduralCreateAssemble a coherent argument for presentation in oral and written work
ConceptualUnderstandDevelop understanding of modern Austrian history and society through the study of diverse literary texts

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