Proseminar Scottish Short Fiction

The title of this Proseminar makes use of two terms, which need to be discussed during the semester. On the one hand, we will look at short fiction, its features and devices as well as what needs to be taken into account when reading and analysing it. But the greater part of the seminar will be taken up by discussions about ‘Scottish’. What does this marker mean, what is part of this definition and what is left out? What could be problematic about this categorisation? Can we define common topics while reading different pieces of Scottish short fiction? We will also consider Scotland’s cultural, historical as well as political background in order to render the development of Scottish literature more comprehensible. In this Proseminar, we will read works by Muriel Sparks, Ali Smith, Alasdair Gray, James Kelman, Eric Linklater, Ian Rankin and Ian Hamilton Finlay, among others. The short stories will be made available in a moodle course online as well as in a reader which will be accessible in the WISO-Pool copy shop. More information on this will be given in the first session of the semester. Please note that the amount of reading in this course is considerable. Please note that the amount of reading in this course is considerable. The short stories will be made available in a moodle course online as well as in a reader which will be accessible in the WISO-Pool copy shop. More information on this will be given in the first session of the semester. Voraussetzungen In order to take part in this seminar you have to attend the first session, for which you have to read and prepare chapters 1 (What is Scotland?, p. 9-25) and 11 (The Context of Modern Scottish Literature, p. 145-161) of the following book: Gardiner, Michael. Modern Scottish Culture. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005. Print. Please be prepared for an examination of these requirements. The texts are available in the WISO-Pool copy shop. Leistungsnachweis Regular and active participation, oral presentation or similar task, research paper (10-15 pages). FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik ,192511145 Regular and active participation, oral presentation or similar task, research paper (10-15 pages). Uni Kassel WiSe 2013/14 Amerikanistik Wendel Jacqueline