The survey lecture course, including “Survey of English literature” (part I and II) and “Survey of American Literature”, is intended to offer an overview of the development of English and American literature from the early modern period to the present. This lecture course runs for three semesters and comprises two lectures on English Literature and one lecture on American literature.
The first part, “A Survey of English Literature Part I”, is offered in autumn 2026 and focuses on English Literature from the Renaissance to c. 1780. “A survey of English Literature Part II” is offered in spring 2026 and focuses on English Literature from c. 1780 to the present day. “A Survey of American Literature” is offered in autumn 2027 and covers American literature from its beginnings to the present day.
First-year students are expected to take two parts of the tri-partite lecture course in conjunction with one “Introduction to Literary Studies” proseminar in order to complete Module 2 of the BA_LET study plan. The proseminar is on offer in every semester and can be taken either in spring or autumn. First-year students need to have completed these requirements during the first four semesters of their BA studies. There will be a written exam at the end of each of these three classes. Students need to achieve a pass grade in all three exams. The grade of the module exam consists of the average of the grades achieved in all three exams.
To gain credit regular attendance is mandatory. More than two unexcused absences disqualify students from gaining credit.
This lecture is eligible for BA_LET students in their first year and BASI students. It is also open for MA students completing Module 3, if they haven’t received ECTS for this lecture before.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will have gained an overview of the major literary movements, genres, and key works of English literature from 1500-1780. They will be able to situate literary works in their broader historical context and to understand their interactions with social, political, and cultural developments in any given period.
Bibliography
Short primary texts (or excerpts of longer works) that students are expected to read will be made available online on Moodle.
- Enseignant·e: Kilian Markus Schindler