ENG4418 – The Gay Novel in English
Course content
This course will provide an introduction to the gay novel in English in the 20th and early 21st centuries. As a starting point, "gay" is understood to mean "gay male" and "novel" is understood to be any fictional, narrative text that has been published separately as a book. In this course, though, we do not presume to know what a "gay novel" is before we have explored what it has been and may yet become.
We will explore this being and becoming in a variety of ethnic and racial, historical and cultural, gendered and class-inflected, sexual and affective settings and situations. Our understanding of the themes, structures, and development of the novels will also be informed by narrative theory. The course may concentrate on one specific author or period or contain a selection of authors from one or several periods.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you:
- can outline the themes, structures, and development of the gay novel in English.
- can analyze narrative technique in the novel and how it shapes the perception of reality, particularly the representation of gender and sexuality.
- have an understanding of how homosexuality was perceived in one or more parts of the English-speaking world in recent history.
- have advanced skills in scholarly writing in English.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
The minimum number of attendants for the course is 10, the maximum 20.
Teaching
Seminars, 2?hours weekly for 10 weeks.?20 hours in all.
- Students will be required to produce a 10-20-minute podcast on one of the syllabus texts, which will be uploaded in Canvas
- It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 6 of 10 seminars. The requirement is absolute.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.
If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for?special needs accommodations..
All obligatory assignments are only valid the semester you attend the course.
Examination
The form of assessment is a term paper of 10 pages (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters). References and bibliography come in addition.
You determine the topic of the term paper together with the lecturer.
You will be offered individual term paper supervision.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.