Literary studies exposes students to different cultural and historical contexts, giving them the tools to make connections between literary texts across cultures, extending the variety of modes of reading and analysis, and developing cross-cultural research skills. Students learn how to write critically about what they have read, and develop an understanding of the relations between language, literature and culture.
Students select from a range of common core units but follow a particular stream through their choice of electives in:
- Creative writing
- International literatures
- Literatures in English
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.
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.
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.
Availability
Literary studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor, major or extended major, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major 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.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- ATS1903 Introducing literature: Ways of reading
- ATS1904 Reading the city: Literary genres
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2163Not offered in 2018 The writing self: Creative nonfiction
- ATS2410 Narrative
- ATS2485 Reading the past
- ATS2508 Introduction to poetry writing*
- ATS2517 Introduction to fiction writing**
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:
- Four units (24 points) from the remaining cornerstone or capstone units or from the electives list below, with at least two units at level 3.
Electives list
Creative writing
International literatures
- ATS2162Not offered in 2018 Literature and visual culture
- ATS2335Not offered in 2018/ATS3135Not offered in 2018 War and memory: Resistance, massacre and representation in Second World War Italy
- ATS2551 Writing resistance: Understanding the power of Indigenous story-telling through literature
- ATS2732 Writing the world, the other and the self
- ATS2898/ATS3898 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives
- ATS3040 Cultures of remembrance
- ATS3077Not offered in 2018 Whatever happened to truth?: French literature, thought and visual culture
- ATS3114Not offered in 2018 The camera at war: Combat photography and the visual language of conflict
- ATS3312 Foreign bodies: Reading world crime fiction
- ATS3407 Psychoanalytic readings - Freud, Jung, Lacan
- ATS3798Not offered in 2018 Global Shakespeares
- ATS3935 Professional practice
Literatures in English
- ATS2164/ATS3164 Italian transformations: Reading and writing self-discovery
- ATS2271Not offered in 2018 Beowulf: An interdisciplinary approach
- ATS2325Not offered in 2018 Cross-cultural literary encounters
- ATS2379Not offered in 2018/ATS3379Not offered in 2018 Fairy tale in Italy
- ATS2422 Romanticism and its literary legacy
- ATS2427Not offered in 2018 Earthworks: Literature and environment
- ATS2442 Print cultures: Books as media
- ATS2443 On the road: Travel and representation
- ATS2444Not offered in 2018/ATS3444Not offered in 2018 Inscribing Italy: Travels and imaginings
- ATS2492 Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature
- ATS2500Not offered in 2018 The "Great" American Novel
- ATS2508 Introduction to poetry writing
- ATS2513Not offered in 2018 Short fiction classic and contemporary
- ATS2516Not offered in 2018 Adaptation into film
- ATS2517 Introduction to fiction writing
- ATS2519 Children's literature: A comparative study
- ATS2551 Writing resistance: Understanding the power of Indigenous story-telling through literature
- ATS2672 Exploring texts with computers
- ATS2914Not offered in 2018 The dark hero
- ATS2915 The roots of fantasy
- ATS3091 Digital literatures
- ATS3486Not offered in 2018 Renaissance literature: Power and desire
- ATS3487 The Shadow of Reason: Irrational literature in the eighteenth century
- ATS3495Not offered in 2018 Interwar Literature
- ATS3496 Fairy-tale traditions
- ATS3502Not offered in 2018 Contemporary Literature
- ATS3503 Writing women
- ATS3506 Poetry: Text and performance
- ATS3798Not offered in 2018 Global Shakespeares
- ATS3888 Race and Class in American Literature
- ATS3917Not offered in 2018 Representing war: Censorship, propaganda and art
- ATS3935 Professional practice
Extended major requirements (72 points)
No more than 24 points at level 1 may be credited to the extended major and at least 24 points must be at level 3.
Students complete:
- The requirements of the major in literary studies (48 points)
- Four units (24 points) including at least one unit at level 3 from the units listed in any stream in the major
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- ATS1903 Introducing literature: Ways of reading
- ATS1904 Reading the city: Literary genres
- Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major. It is a highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.
Intending honours students
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.
Diplomas
- A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*
Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2012 Bachelor of Business Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2024 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
