Texts from World Literature I

Code:

LEI003

Acronym:

TLM_I

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Comparative Literature

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Portuguese and Romance Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Literature and Interart Studies

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LEI	50	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The cultural centrality of the texts selected for this programme, and their origins in 4 major European languages and literary traditions, make this a particularly convincing space for achieving one of the key objective identified above: fostering a recognition of some of the processes that render certain texts canonical and inscribe them in literary memory. The sheer volume of the critical and literary-historical processing of these texts will also serve another objective: that of identifying traits that sustain an argument either for the singularity or typicality of said texts, in different contexts and temporal frameworks of their reception.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students will be encouraged to develop a basic understanding of the grounds on which certain canonical texts prove culturally and imaginatively consequential. Such an understanding will be based on their familiarity (likewise fostered by this course) both with general traits of literary history, and conceptual resources with which to process (academically, critically) the texts in question. As regards the literary-historical information, students will be trained to recognise a (verifiable) tension between a perceived singularity or typicality when a given canonical text is culturally valued, either in its original context or in the broader range of its reception elsewhere. As regards the conceptual / theoretical issues, students will be encouraged to recognise the operativity of notions such as canon and literary memory for a critical delineation of the conditions that privilege certain texts as objects to be read.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Introduction: World Literature, Canon, Literary Memory – key concepts.

1. Dante: «Commedia», «Divina commedia» - the temporal backdrop (1307- 1321), structure and cosmology. 2. William Shakespeare, Hamlet 3. Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha 4. Molière, Les Précieuses Ridicules
Closing remarks: on the trans-historical and intercultural consequence of ‘major texts’.

Mandatory literature

Dante Alighieri; La divina commedia. ISBN: 88-02-02638-6
William Shakespeare; Hamlet. ISBN: 0-415-02683-0
Miguel de Cervantes; El^ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de La Mancha. ISBN: 84--89592-15-2
Molière; Les^precieuses ridicules. ISBN: 2-03-871669-2

Teaching methods and learning activities

In any of the modules that compose it, the programme will include expository moments, privileging informative components both of a literary-historical and conceptual nature, and moments aimed at student participation, focusing on critical discussion of the primary texts. The latter component will range from seminars to tutorials. This composite teaching approach will be matched by a mixed model of assessment (see below).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	65,00
Prova oral	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	120,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

1 final written test: 65%

2 scheduled individual oral discussion led by two of the course's teaching staff: 35%

Calculation formula of final grade

1 final written test: 65%

2 scheduled individual oral discussion led by two of the course's teaching staff: 35%

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students whose circumstances legally entitle them to 'special assessment', and find themselves unable to abide the regular calendar of assessment for the semester in question, should contact the course leader, who will inform them of available alternatives.

Classification improvement

Students may register for 'grade improvement' only as regards their 'final written test'.