Ateneo - UPO

Colonial and postcolonial: An Introduction to World Literatures in English

Dean Baldwin and Patrick J. Quinn, An Anthology of Postcolonial Short Fiction, Cengage Learning 2007; B. Ashcroft, G. Griffiths, H. Tiffin, The Empire Writes Back, 2nd ed. Routledge 2002; P. Poplawski, English Literature in Context, second edition, CUP 2017; John McLeod, Beginning Postcolonialism, Manchester UP, 2010; Philippa Levine, The British Empire. Sunrise to Sunset, third edition, Routledge, 2020.

The course is meant as an introduction to the diversity of the literary and cultural traditions in the anglophone world. We will read and discuss a selection of short stories focusing on the colonial and postcolonial experience, the interactions between the centre of the Empire and its (former) colonies, the renegotiation and hybridisation of European culture, the reinvention of the English language.

B1 level of English

Lectures and in-class readings of primary texts

Programme for non attending students does not vary.

The exam consists of a two-hour written test, which is divided into two parts. In the first part students are asked to answer a series of factual questions about the texts covered in class (examples will be provided during the course and will also be available on the DIR). The second part consists of open questions on specific aspects of the program.
Grading criteria:
27-30: firm grasp of the topics dealt with; excellent analytical and argumentative skills; personal and critical approach
30 cum Laude: personal and critical approach; independent work on specific topics not included in the syllabus
23-26: mostly mnemonic/mechanical approach to the topics dealt with; satisfactory analytical and argumentative skills
18-22: basic knowledge of the topics dealt with; basic argumentative and analytical skills

Week 1: Introduction: Situating the colonial and postcolonial in space, time, theory
Week 2-3: The Nineteenth Century and Imperial Responses
Kipling, “The Man Who Would Be King”
Lessing, “Old Chief Mshlanga”
Week 4-5: The Colonial Response
Mansfield, “How Pearl Button Was Kidnapped”
Rhys, “The Day They Burnt the Books”
O’Connor, “Guests of the Nation”
Week 6-7: Immigrants and the Diaspora
Divakaruni, “Clothes”
Rushdie, “The Courter”
Week 7-8: The Colonial Legacy at Home
Achebe, “Girls at War”
Gordimer, “Amnesty”

(KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)
- Basic knowledge of the history of colonization and de-colonization in the main areas of the former British Empire.
- Critical understanding of the texts studied, with specific reference to their linguistic component.
(APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)
- Ability to grasp and understand the connections between texts and contexts (historical, geographical, political), using the critical and methodological tools appropriate to the analysis of the texts considered.
- Ability to use the appropriate lexicon in English to communicate - clearly and effectively - knowledge, information and opinions related to the topics dealt with.