University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 9

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to works of contemporary French fiction. Five works of fiction (all published within the last 10 years; several of them more recently) will be studied in the context of a range of theoretical and pedagogic questions. What do we mean by 'contemporary fiction' (or indeed 'fiction')? What is 'the contemporary'? Is national literature still an important phenomenon in a world of translation and world literature? How do we go about choosing texts to study / teach on a contemporary module of this kind? Can a canon of emerging texts and / or authors already be identified? Do these texts share specifically 'contemporary' traits, e.g. their relationship to socio-political 'reality', stylistic or generic conventions? How might we judge if these are great, or even good, works, and does it matter?

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Permission of the Comparative Literature Honours Adviser

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 seminar and 1 surgery hour.

Scheduled learning hours: 16

Guided independent study hours: 134

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 60%, Coursework = 40%

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 60%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 40%

Re-assessment: 3-hour Written Examination = 100%