This
class focuses on the ways in which literary representations of the human
subject reflect changing ideas of identity in nineteenth-century Britain. It
examines Victorian literature in the context of the discourses (ex. biology,
philosophy, and new inventions) it was produced, and from which it drew in its
conceptualisation of the ‘Self’. Special attention is given to
“more-than-human-centric” perspectives by also drawing into focus the pivotal
roles played by animals, the environment, and the natural world in shaping the
subject. Students will be encouraged to explore the constitution, formation,
and representation of the subject by examining parameters, such as species,
gender, age, and social class, and become familiarised with the critical reading
of literary works and their characters, tracing the mechanisms behind the
construction of the ‘Self’ and the ‘Other’. Students will also learn to
identify the ways in which literature has the potential of subverting the
stereotypical assumptions of any given society and the factors that impede the personal growth and
self-determination of the individual. The emphasis is on mid- and
late-nineteenth-century British texts, which will be read in conjunction with
contemporary readings of the subject, revealing their enduring resonance today
and prompting a reassessment of the debates that they engage in within our
dynamically evolving world.
Expected learning outcomes
Assessment
Final exam and optional research paper and/or oral presentation.
Course Outline
