Australian autobiography
John Rickard
8 or 12 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
*
Clayton
Objectives Upon completion, students will be expected to have gained an understanding of the genre of autobiography in the Australian context. They Should have demonstrated their ability to appreciate and analyse a range of autobiographies, assessing their cultural significance and contextualising the experiences recorded in them. Students should have become familiar with the recurring myths of `growing up Australian', and will be expected to have an understanding of the ways in which such myths may be seen to be endorsed or subverted.
Synopsis Many of the major achievements in Australian literature since the 1950s have been autobiographies, but only within the last decade has much critical attention been given to the form. This subject begins with an examination of the genre in an international context before proceeding to the critical assessment of a range of texts. Consideration will be given to the problems, literary and historical, of writing autobiography, and students will be encouraged to reflect upon the task of interpreting their own life experience.
Assessment Two seminar papers (2000 words): 25% each
* Essay (3500
to 4000 words): 50%
* The essay may take the form of an autobiographical
`chapter' in which the student constructs an episode from her/his own life. If
this option is chosen, the essay must be accompanied by a short (c. 500 word)
commentary on the process and the problems encountered in the recalling/shaping
of memories for this text.
Preliminary reading
Olney J (ed.) Autobiography: Essays theoretical and critical
Donaldson I and others Shaping lives Humanities Research Centre, ANU
Prescribed texts
Clark M The puzzles of childhood Penguin
Facey A A fortunate life Fremantle Arts Press
Franklin M Childhood at Brindabella Angus and Robertson
Gilbert K (eds) Living black Penguin
Greer G Daddy we hardly knew you Penguin
Grimshaw and Strahan (eds) The half-open door Hale and Iremonger
Horne D The education of young Donald Angus and Robertson
Inglis A Amirah: An un-Australian childhood Heinemann
McInnes G The road to Gundagai Hogarth Press
Malouf M 12 Edmondstone Street Penguin
Modjeska D Poppy Penguin
Morgan S My place Fremantle Arts Press
Park R A fence around the cuckoo Penguin
Porter H The watcher on the cast-iron balcony Faber
White P Flaws in the glass Penguin
| Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria
3168 Copyright © Monash University 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Caution Authorised by the Academic Registrar December 1996 |