course-details-portlet

ALIT1104

Drama and Literary Theory 1800-2000

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 15
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course offers an introduction to drama, poetics and literary theory within the modern literary canon. The students learn fundamental analytical approaches to texts and genres, and they get insights into how social, cultural and aesthetic contexts have shaped modern literature into our present time. The course has two modules. In the drama course, we read works by Ibsen, Chekhov, Beckett, and others. The poetics and literary theory course introduces the main schools within modern literary theory, and we study how thinkers such as Shklovsky, Foucault and Freud have theorized about the potential of literature to articulate human experiences.

Learning outcome

The candidate will after successfully completing this course have KNOWLEDGE about:

- the outlines of Western literary theory from Romanticism until today

- of essential dramatic works since Romanticism

- key concepts of literary theory

- different schools of literary theory

The candidate will after successfully completing this course be SKILLED in:

- employ her/his acquired knowledge in literary analysis

- presenting his/her knowledge of theory in writing.

The candidate’s GENERAL COMPETENCY includes:

- an understanding om the modern drama in its historical and cultural connection

- a basic understanding of the function of literary theory.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and group sessions including written assignments. 1-2 obligatory activities, including one approved written assignment (4-5 pages) with feedback.

Compulsory assignments

  • 1-2 obligatory activities

Course materials

A reading list will be available first day of class. Students that use the standard list do not have to hand in a reading list to the department. Students that want to use an alternative curriculum must apply for this by handing in an alternative reading list to the department for approval. Deadline is 10th October in the autumn semester and 10th March in the spring semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
HFALIT104 15 sp
ALIT1106 15 sp Autumn 2017
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Comparative Literature

Contact information

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Language and Literature

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Date 2025-10-07 Time 09:00 Duration 6 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL310 turkis sone
1 candidate

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 6 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.