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Lecturer(s)
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Janebová Markéta, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Livingstone David, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Siedloczek Marian, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Jařab Josef, prof. PhDr. CSc.
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Dvořáková Šárka, Mgr.
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Woock Elizabeth Allyn, Mgr. PhD.
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Course content
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Curriculum: The end of the world has been a persistent topic in multiple genres throughout history, ranging from religious prophecies and political propaganda to dystopian literature, adventure stories and fantasy fiction and, sadly, also to scientific research and visions of ecological catastrophe. In the seminar we will discuss various literary works from the 20th and 21st century. Among the novels we will read, there may be John Wyndham?s The Day of the Triffids, John Brunner?s The Sheep Look Up, Kurt Vonnegut?s Galapagos, and Emily St. John Mandel?s Station Eleven. I am open to suggestions ? within limits, e.g. there will be no Zombie apocalypses in this seminar. It is quite possible that we will also watch one or two movies.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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- Semestral Work
- 24 hours per semester
- Attendace
- 26 hours per semester
- Homework for Teaching
- 25 hours per semester
- Preparation for the Course Credit
- 25 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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KAL2, summer semester2025/26: Topic: William Shakespeare Instructor: Prof. Dirk Vanderbeke Format: block course (2 sessions on Thursdays 15-18.15, 2 sessions on Fridays 9.45-13.00 - i.e. 12 lessons in total) Dates: 26/27 February 2026 26/27 March 2026 23/24 April 2026) Venue: TBA Intended audience: BA and MA students. Only students who have taken the Introduction to the Study of Literature (or an equivalent) are eligible. Requirements: Reading, attendance, active participation. Credits will be obtained by writing a short term paper (6-8 pages for BA-students, 8-10 pages for MA-students). The use of AI is not permitted. Outline: This seminar will cover the three genres of Shakespeare?s plays, Comedy, History, and Tragedy. We will start with Much Ado About Nothing, followed by Richard III and finally King Lear. There are probably hundreds of editions of these plays, and many are useful. I suggest that you use the Arden edition ? it does not really matter whether the second or third, even though they differ. What is important is the huge number of excellent annotations to the text, and they are similar in both editions. The Arden editions are not expensive, and there also should be lots of used copies of the second editions available. Any discussion of Shakespeare requires some knowledge of Renaissance philosophy, science, politics and religion, and so we will also investigate the historical background and history of ideas relevant to the chosen plays. In addition to reading and discussing the plays, we will also watch one movie adaptation each. For Much Ado About Nothing, it will be the Kenneth Branagh version from 1993 ? there are not so many options. The movie can be watched online, but I will also bring a digital version that you can download on your devices and watch in the evening. And, in case the powers that be grant me a room in the evening, I will also show the movie Thursday evening at 8 p.m. for all those who prefer a large screen and still remember that in the days of yore watching movies was a social event. It is imperative that you have watched the movie before the Friday session. For the other two plays, there are numerous useful adaptations. For Richard III, I suggest Richard Loncraine?s version (1995), but there may also be other options. For King Lear, the number of excellent adaptations is staggering, and we will decide in the first session which one we want to watch. Again, I will provide digital versions and also show the movies on Thursday evenings.
The ability of students to compose a critical text in the English language dealing with the chosen literary text.
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Prerequisites
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Only students who have taken the Introduction to the Study of Literature (or an equivalent) are eligible.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Essay
Requirements: Reading, attendance, active participation. Credits will be obtained by writing a short term paper (8-10 pages). The use of AI is not permitted.
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Recommended literature
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Gerald Berkowitz. (1992). American Drama of the Twentieth Century.
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Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors, eds. (2009). A New Literary History of America.
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