Monsters are terrifying, abominable, yet also fascinating and
attractive. They are entirely different, yet also uncannily familiar. No
wonder that monsters have haunted literature from the Middle Ages to
the present, and also made film and TV their favourite abode. This
seminar uses the bicentennary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as
an occasion to survey the representation of monsters in literary
history from the Middle Ages over the nineteenth Century to the present.
After initial theoretical and historical preparations, students will be
expected to work in project groups, specializing in individual monsters
or monster types. In the course of the term, the groups will prepare
poster presentations to share preliminary findings with their peers.
At the end of the term, the participants of the course will present
their results either in the context of a student conference or an
exhibition or similar event (the possible options are currently checked;
once a decision has been taken, it will be communicated in Unisono
and/or the first session of the class).
Among the monsters we will encounter in the course of the term are
Grendel, Richard III, Frankenstein’s creature, Dracula, Moby Dick, Mr
Hyde and Dorian Gray. In addition, we shall also look at representations
of monsters in children’s books and children’s culture. And, of course,
THERE WILL BE DRAGONS.
Please note that this seminar consists of a 4-hour unit and thus
comprises an entire module, that is, its workload includes the
equivalent of 2 Studienleistungen and 1 Prüfungsleistung. Students taking this course will therefore be expected to attend and participate in the entire 4-hour sessions.
(N.B.: Students who only need one module element are welcome to the
course, too, provided they are ready to do the 4-hour units. It is NOT possible, to only come and attend for half of the session!)
Due to the project nature of this seminar, students participating in
this course will be expected to be interested in the course topic, to
attend regularly, to participate actively and fulfil assignments
diligently - and to be ready to cope with a considerable reading load.
Students who prefer to attend classes only sporadically and/or
passively, and/or who do not really like to read, and/or have no real
interest in the topic are strongly advised to choose other options.
- Dozent/in: Anja Müller