literary-studies/ug-arts-literary-studies

aos

Monash University

Undergraduate - Area of study

Students who commenced study in 2014 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

print version

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2014 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook. Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees.

Managing facultyFaculty of Arts
Offered bySchool of English, Communications and Performance Studies
School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics
Campus(es)Caulfield, Clayton

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Description

Three streams are offered through the literary studies sequence on the Caulfield and Clayton campuses. The guide below indicates the requirements for completing major and minor sequences through each of these streams. Not all units are offered at both campuses.

Stream A: Literatures in English

Literatures in English offers students the opportunity to read and study literature written in English, from its origins in Britain through to its vital role in contemporary culture in Australia, America, the UK and the post-colonial world. Students are introduced to a variety of modes of reading and analysing literature and learn how to write critically about what they have read. Students encounter a variety of cultural and historical contexts and are encouraged to understand the relations between language, literature and culture. Among the topics usually available are ones that extend the discussion of literature into the fields of postcolonial literature, fairy tale and children's literature, creative writing, creative nonfiction, and travel writing; core subjects look at narrative, reading historical texts, and literary theory, as well as texts from periods such as the Renaissance, the Romantic period, Victorian Britain, modernism and postmodernism.

Stream B: Creative writing

Creative writing students study literature and its applicability to creative writing practice through a comparative approach. Fiction-writing and poetry-writing subjects concentrate on key texts by major contemporary writers and examine various works which exemplify, modify, or challenge creative writing. Students reflect creatively and analytically on their ongoing writing practice in the light of these texts. In the supportive and collaborative environment of workshops students will be encouraged to experiment with a range of techniques and styles. Units in this stream present an integrated approach to theory and creative practice.

Stream C: International literatures

International literatures offers students the opportunity to read and study works of literature from European, Latin American, African and Asian countries. This stream removes boundaries between national literatures providing an international perspective on literary movements and works including fiction, poetry, drama and non-fiction from around the globe. International literatures exposes students to different cultural and historical contexts giving them the tools to study literature across cultures. All works are studied in translation (English) or in the original where students have language competency. There are no foreign language requirements: however, students majoring in languages other than English are strongly encouraged to take electives from this pathway or to do a double major.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:

  • demonstrate advanced understanding of the development of literary texts across different professional, cultural, historical and/or linguistic contexts
  • produce high level critical and/or creative written practice, in or about literary genres such as fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction
  • apply advanced critical reading in the context of the field of literary studies
  • evaluate critically a range of approaches to literary and critical analysis
  • complete independent research in literary studies, using print and electronic sources
  • engage in self-directed collaborative group work.

Units

Minor in literary studies

Students completing a minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in literary studies must complete four units (24 points), following one of the three streams outlined below, including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points)

(b.) additional elective units (12 points) from the one of the list of electives (List A: Literatures in English; List B: Creative writing; List C: International Literatures)

Note: Students can take the second-year cornerstone or third-year capstone units from the appropriate major stream as electives.

Major in literary studies: Literatures in English stream

Students completing a majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in literary studies, literatures in English stream must complete eight units (48 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1903 Introducing literature: Ways of reading
  • ATS1904 Reading the city: Literary genres

(b.) at least one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(c.) at least one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(d.) additional elective units from List A or List B (24 points)

Students intending to undertake an honours year are encouraged to take ATS3782 as their capstone unit.

A minimum of three units (18 points) must be completed at third-year level.

Note: Students can take the remaining cornerstone and capstone units as electives.

Major in literary studies: Creative writing stream

Students completing a majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in literary studies, creative writing stream must complete eight units (48 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1903 Introducing literature: Ways of reading
  • ATS1904 Reading the city: Literary genres

(b.) at least one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

  • ATS2508 Introduction to poetry writing
  • ATS2510 Writing in Australia
  • ATS2517 Introduction to fiction writing

(c.) at least one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(d.) additional elective units from List A or List B (24 points). A minimum of two units (12 points) must be completed from List B.

Students intending to undertake an honours year are encouraged to take ATS3782 as their capstone unit.

A minimum of three units (18 points) must be completed at third-year level.

Note: Students can take the remaining cornerstone and capstone units as electives.

Major in literary studies: International literatures stream

Students completing a majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in literary studies, international literatures stream must complete eight units (48 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1276 Tales of origin and transgression
  • ATS1903 Introducing literature: Ways of reading

(b.) at least one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(c.) at least one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(d.) additional elective units from List C (24 points)

Students intending to undertake an honours year are encouraged to take ATS3782 as their capstone unit.

A minimum of three units (18 points) must be completed at third-year level.

Note: Students can take the remaining cornerstone and capstone units as electives.

Extended major in literary studies

Students completing an extended major in literary studies (60 points), from any stream, must complete an additional 12 points of third-year level elective units chosen from the appropriate stream of electives.

Elective units

List A: Literatures in English stream electives

  • ATS2379/ATS3379 Fairy tale in Italy*
  • ATS2413 Science fiction: From monsters to cyborgs
  • ATS2427 Earthworks: Literature and environment
  • ATS2442 Print Cultures: Books as Media
  • ATS2444/ATS3444 Inscribing Italy: Travels and imaginings*
  • ATS2492 Shakespeare: Interpretations and transmutations
  • ATS2500 The 20th century American novel in a period of change
  • ATS2503 Writing women
  • ATS2508 Introduction to poetry writing
  • ATS2510 Writing in Australia
  • ATS2513 Short fiction: Classic and contemporary
  • ATS2515 Reading across cultures
  • ATS2516 Adaptation to film
  • ATS2517 Introduction to fiction writing
  • ATS2519 Children's literature: A comparative study
  • ATS2914 The dark hero and femme fatal
  • ATS2915 The roots of fantasy
  • ATS3063 The writing self: Creative non fiction
  • ATS3091 Digital literatures
  • ATS3443 On the road: Travel and representation
  • ATS3486 Renaissance literature: Power and desire
  • ATS3495 Victorian to modern English literature
  • ATS3496 Fairy-tale traditions
  • ATS3487 Satire, sex and sensibility in the eighteenth century
  • ATS3502 Post-Modern and contemporary English literature
  • ATS3506 Poetry: Text and performance
  • ATS3888 Race and class in US literature

List B: Creative writing stream electives

  • ATS2164/ATS3164 Italian transformations: Reading and writing self discovery
  • ATS3063 The writing self: Creative non fiction
  • ATS3091 Digital literatures
  • ATS3509 Advanced poetry writing
  • ATS3518 Advanced fiction writing

List C: International literatures stream electives

  • ATS2405 Critical theory and poststructuralism: Recent European philosophy
  • ATS2409 Writing lives: Autobiography and historical fiction
  • ATS2412 Foreign bodies: Reading world crime fiction
  • ATS2427 Earthworks: Literature and environment
  • ATS2428/ATS3428 Modern Jewish literature: Writing across the language
  • ATS2898/ATS3898 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives*
  • ATS3018 Writing the nation
  • ATS3040 Cultures of remembrance
  • ATS3076 Contemporary French fiction: Rewriting identity
  • ATS3077 Whatever happened to truth?: French literature, thought and visual culture
  • ATS3083 Translating across cultures
  • ATS3407 Reading Freud and Jung
  • ATS3955 Writing destruction: Literature of war
  • ATS3976 Histoire(s) de rire: The stakes of literary laughter in France

* Taught in Prato, Italy. This unit will require payment of an additional fee that may cover items such as accommodation, entry fees, excursions, coaches, transfers, flights and university administration.

Relevant courses

Diplomas

  • 2327 Diploma in Liberal Arts

Bachelors

Single degrees

  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 4077 Bachelor of Arts (International)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program
  • 4042 Bachelor of Journalism
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 1275 Bachelor of Professional Communication

Double degrees

  • 4640 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4098 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business
  • 0550 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
  • 0553 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)
  • 0555 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • 0556 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • 0542 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 0170 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics
  • 1541 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Primary)
  • 1641 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
  • 0080 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3054 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
  • 3426 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 4097 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program and Bachelor of Commerce Scholars Program
  • 4403 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 3537 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Science
  • 4634 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4644 Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4426 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Business
  • 4425 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 4069 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Science
  • 4648 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts