Course Catalogue

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This cross-cultural course will introduce students to modern literary exchanges between Scottish and European writers over the twentieth and the twenty-first century. It will explore influential translations into English and Scots (such as Edwin and Willa Muir's translation of Kafka's Metamorphosis and Alexander Gray's translation into Scots of German folk-songs and ballads), European influences on modern Scottish literary fiction and drama (such as Liz Lochead's Miseryguts and Alan Warner's Morvern Callar), as well as the influence of Scottish writing on modern European literary culture (such as the portrayal of Burns in Russia and André Gide's rediscovery of James Hogg). Through reading and discussing together significant and marginal texts, this course aims to deliver a unique perspective on cross-national borrowings and national literatures. Is it possible for literature to mediate across political, cultural, and social borders right up to the post-Brexit present? This course invites you to explore the modern roots of Scotland's cultural connections to the continent.

Block 3, Weeks 1-10

2 hours per week for 10 weeks

Thursday, 19.00-21.00

None

None

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Close reading exercise (750 words) analysing and comparing two texts (one Scottish, one European) to recognise their potential relationship to one another (25%)

Essay (1,500 words) comparing two texts (one Scottish, the other European) to reveal the broader cross-cultural literary dialogue between Scotland and Europe demonstrated by these texts, specifically the role of cross-national borrowings and national literatures (75%).

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to significant writers and texts involved in literary exchanges between Scotland and Europe from the twentieth and twenty-first century

■ Offer students the chance to engage in close textual analysis of notable extracts of novels, drama, fiction and letters from Scotland and Europe during this time period to discuss and discover their relationship to one another.

■ Invite students to discuss broader questions concerning the role of national literatures and cross-national dialogue in the context of Scotland and Europe.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify and compare significant writers and texts involved in literary exchanges between Scotland and Europe from the twentieth and twenty-first century

■ Analyse notable extracts of novels, drama, fiction and letters from Scotland and Europe during this time period and discuss their relationship to one another.

■ Demonstrate a broader comparative understanding of cross-national borrowings and national literatures in the context of Scotland and Europe.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.