Modern British Short Stories

PS, 2st., Do 12-14
BA (1.2), A4, A7; MAIAS elective; Lehramt
SoSe 2012
Universität Bayreuth

Course Description

In this seminar we will concentrate on selected short stories of the modern period of British literature. We will start with determining the characteristics that define the short story format including structural and compositional patterns, before focussing on selected works. “Ping” by Samuel Beckett, “To Room Nineteen” by Doris Lessing, “Weekend” by Fay Weldon, “The Prophet’s Hair” by Salman Rushdie and “One of a Kind” by Julian Barnes are only some of the stories we will read. The topics addressed in the short stories are just as complex as the writing styles of the authors. Hence, social concerns and literary developments will also be discussed in this seminar in order to create awareness for the diversity that is inherent to these stories and that thereby represent the modern period.

Text to be obtained by students:

Malcolm Bradburg (ed.), The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories
A reader with additional texts will be available at the beginning of the semester.

Course Overview

Course Overview_MBSS_update (10.05.2012) (pdf-document)

Course Overview Modern British Short Stories (pdf-document)

Forms as download files