Hauptseminar Gender and Social Criticism in Jane Austen

This seminar examines the work of Jane Austen, drawing particular attention to questions of gender representation and social criticism. Read from today's perspective, gender roles and moral values expressed in Austen's novels are likely to appear somewhat alien. We will closely examine three of Austen's novels, taking into account both Austen's polished style and satirical wit and the social and historical context of her work. In applying current theories of gender, we will reconsider the roles and responsibilities assigned to female and male characters in Austen's novels. In addition to this, we will consider the history of Jane Austen's reception. Austen is one of the few female writers who were canonized long before the second half of the 20th century saw a fundamental (and ongoing) rewriting of the Anglophone literary canon. We will examine Austen's reception during her own time and in the context of the rise of literary Romanticism and the Victorian age. Objects of inquiry will furthermore include the position of Austen's work as an object of popular obsession (as exemplified by the development of -Janeite- fan culture) and scholarly criticism in the 20th century, as well as the mainstream comeback sparked by TV and film adaptations in the mid-1990s. Reading for this course: We will work with three novels by Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Persuasion (1818). Please get hold of the novels before the beginning of the course and start reading. In addition, a reader will be available at the copy shop in -Reckhammerweg- from early April. Please note: This is a course for students who are willing to read three novels AND additional material. The reading load will be considerable, and participants will have to pass -reading check-ups- in order to qualify for credit. Anglistik Universität Duisburg-Essen SS 2010 Mag, Magisterstudiengang Anglistik