LN251 One Unit
Comparative Literature and 20th Century Political History
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Olga Sobolev
Availability
This course is available on the BA in History, BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in Economic History, BSc in Economic History and Geography, BSc in Economics and Economic History, BSc in History and Politics, BSc in International Relations, BSc in International Relations and History, BSc in Language, Culture and Society, BSc in Social Anthropology, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is freely available to General Course students. It does not require permission.
This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Although an A-level pass or equivalent in Literature is useful, it is not an absolute requirement (especially for General Course Students).
Course content
Comparative literature of the twentieth century leading up to and including the Cold War. (a) Study of major authors (prose, poetry and drama, in English translation where relevant) on both sides of the Iron Curtain with a focus on the recurrent cultural themes: social Utopia/Dystopia; art with a social/political function; the East-West dichotomy in the Cold War; ideological scepticism; individual and the state; the value of political protest (b) Use of video-recording related to the texts (c) Several related trips to galleries, film festivals and theatre productions during the year; (d) Students encouraged to draw upon background in their main discipline, and to read widely.
Teaching
1 hours of lectures and 1 hours of classes in the Spring Term.
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Winter Term.
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.
Structured activities during the reading week in the AT and WT. Revision tutorials in the ST.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce 2 essays in the AT and WT.
Indicative reading
A. Huxley Brave New World; G.B. Shaw Annajanska the Bolshevik Empress; E. Zamyatin We; G. Orwell Animal Farm & 1984; M. Bulgakov The Heart of a Dog; W. H. Auden poems; V. Mayakovsky poems; A. Solzhenitsyn A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich; Ian Fleming From Russia with Love; John le Carré Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Peter Scheider The Wall Jumer, Ian McEwan The Innocent, A. Makine A Life's Music; M. Kundera The Unbearable Lightness of Being; T. Stoppard Professional Foul; S. Dovlatov The Suitcase; B. Chatwin Utz.
Assessment
Exam (70%), duration: 180 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Project (30%, 2500 words)
a presentation (in the form of a topic-specific discussion) constitutes an essential part of the project-work
Key facts
Department: Language Centre
Course Study Period: Autumn, Winter and Spring Term
Unit value: One unit
FHEQ Level: Level 5
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 23
Average class size 2024/25: 8
Capped 2024/25: Yes(24)Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills