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; 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 basic educational objectives of the course are: 1.to understand the diversity of literary and cultural traditions in the Anglophone world through the reading and analysis of a series of short stories focused on the colonial and postcolonial experience; 2. to analyze the mechanisms of contact between the center of the empire and its (former) colonies, the phenomena of subversion and hybridization of European culture, the reinvention of the English language, and the dynamics of gender in colonial and postcolonial contexts; 3.to acquire basic knowledge of postcolonial theory and the historical-cultural contexts related to the stories and authors under examination.
A more advanced objective is the development of the ability to critically analyze and synthesize the texts considered, with particular attention to their linguistic dimension.

B1 level of English

Lectures and in-class readings of primary texts

Lectures, assignments and assessment will be in English.
Students unable to attend are asked to refer to the same syllabus as students regularly coming to class.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of a two-hour written test in English, comprising two parts. In the first part students are asked to answer a series of factual questions about the texts discussed 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”
Integration of the gender dimension:

In order to achieve the knowledge, skills, and abilities corresponding to the basic level, the student is required to demonstrate:(KNOWLEDGE): basic knowledge of the history of colonization and decolonization of the major former British colonies; knowledge of the main aspects of postcolonial literary history; (SKILLS): the ability to analyze and synthesize the proposed texts, with particular attention to the relationship between text and context (historical, geographical, political, gender-related); (TRANSVERSAL SKILLS): the ability to clearly and effectively present knowledge, information, and opinions on the topics covered, using appropriate language and terminology. To achieve an advanced level, the student must demonstrate the ability to: analyse the assigned texts with particular attention to their linguistic dimension; read the texts from a critical perspective, identifying their peculiarities and points of connection.