LANG 3089 World Literature in Translation

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Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 101669

Coordinator Chris Andrews Opens in new window

Description This unit examines representative works of world literature written in languages other than English in order to address a range of literary and cultural issues, including the role of translation in crosscultural communication.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Literature

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

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Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Restrictions Successful completion of 60 credit points of study in currently enrolled program.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  1. Articulate the key elements and features of a series of important works of world literature;
  2. Produce an original, closely-argued interpretation of a literary work;
  3. Examine how the methods of translating literature vary across cultures and historical periods;
  4. Explore the differences between literature and other kinds of discourse, asking: Are there literary universals?
  5. Investigate the impact of translated works of literature on the cultures that receive them;
  6. Identify the differences between the ideas of "world literature" that have developed in different cultures.

Subject Content

- The reading, interpretation and Discussion of A series of important works from World literature in translation
- The Study of cases of literary transfer: cases in which plots, characters, forms and concepts, as well as works, have been transferred from one linguistic culture to another, and how they have affected The cultures that have received them
- Critical reflection on how "world literature" is constructed differently in different cultures

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Recorded presentation on one of the texts 5 minutes 25 N Individual
Four short answer tests on the texts and the content of the lectures (10 minutes each) 40 minutes 25 N Individual
Comparative essay 2,000 words 50 N Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Shushaku Endo, The Sea and Poison, translated by Michael Gallagher, New York: New Directions, 1992.
  • Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, Translated by Lydia Davis; Harmondsworth; Penguin, 2011.
  • Roberto Bola?o, Distant star, Translated by Chris Andrews, London; Harvill, 2004.
  • Assia Djebar, Women of Algiers in their Apartment, Translated by Marjolijn de Jager. Charlottesville; University Press of Virginia, 1992.

Teaching Periods

Structures that include subject