The English Novel: Interdisciplinary Approaches

ABOUT THE COURSE: The novel is the paradigmatic genre of our times—or is it? On one hand, it is what most readers understand as literature. First year college students often mistakenly write “novel” when they mean “literary text,” and publishers report highest sales figures for novels. On the other hand, more people have seen the films or TV shows than have read the texts of the most well-known novels of our time. In this course students will study six powerful English novels by focusing on both the print version and the film adaptation of the same. Students will learn how to approach novels from the perspective of authorial backgrounds, narratology, adaptation theory, and new work in literary theory, including environmental and medical humanities. By completing this course, students will be equipped with the most sophisticated and innovative skills of interpreting novels, and a critical appreciation of some of the most frequently studied novels in English literature classrooms all over the world.INTENDED AUDIENCE: This course will appeal to the following audiences:1. Individuals engaged in the formal study of English Literature at the UG, PG, and Ph.D level.2. Individuals pursuing their study of English Literature from their own interest.3. General readers who have read classic English novels on their own, and wish to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history, context, and theory of the English novel.PREREQUISITES:Ability to read and write English prose.INDUSTRY SUPPORT: All industries today value key critical thinking skills that can be gained from literary studies:Textual Analysis and Linguistic and textual analysisClear and persuasive writingPersuasive communication through effective writingDecision makingLeadershipEmotional IntelligenceA wide range of soft skills including interpersonal relations

Week 1:Why study a Novel?

1. “The Art of Fiction”
2. Classical Narrative Theory
3. Rhetorical Narrative Theory
4. Adaptation
5. “How to Read a Novel”

Week 2:The Novel After Literary Theory

1. Gender
2. Class
3. Environment
4. Disability
5. Race

Week 3:Pride and Prejudice

1. Background (author and context)
2. Theme, form, and style
3. Scholarly Debates
4. Textual Analysis
5. From print to screen

Week 4:Jane Eyre

1. Background (author and context)
2. Theme, form, and style
3. Scholarly Debates
4. Textual Analysis
5. From print to screen

Week 5:Dracula

1. Background (author and context)
2. Theme, form, and style
3. Scholarly Debates
4. Textual Analysis
5. From print to screen

Week 6:Mrs Dalloway

1. Background (author and context)
2. Theme, form, and style
3. Scholarly Debates
4. Textual Analysis
5. From print to screen

Week 7:Atonement

1. Background (author and context)
2. Theme, form, and style
3. Scholarly Debates
4. Textual Analysis
5. From print to screen

Week 8:The Reluctant Fundamentalist

1. Background (author and context)
2. Theme, form, and style
3. Scholarly Debates
4. Textual Analysis
5. From print to screen