Handbook home
The Australian Imaginary (ENGL20009)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
The sense of national literature formed quite soon in colonial Australia, which saw a remarkable level of literary activity across a range of genres. This subject looks at what a national literature means, and how it makes itself significant to the nation and beyond. It will think about colonialism and colonial writing in Australia, modes of Australian social realism, the emergence of an Australian modernism, ways of representing region, suburb and city, postcolonialism in Australia, 'multicultural' writing, and Indigenous literature. The focus is on the novel, short stories, poetry and genres such as romance and the Gothic.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of representative examples of Australian literature;
- articulate the relationship between selected Australian literary works and the social, historical and cultural contexts that produced them;
- apply high-level analysis, conceptual sophistication and critical thinking to the study of Australia literature and the debates it has provoked;
- contribute to the understanding of Australian literature in ways that engage the interests of the discipline of literary studies;
- communicate effectively an understanding of Australian literature and its contexts in both written and oral formats; and
- have gained an understanding of how to act as critically informed participants within a community of literature scholars, as citizens and in the work force at large.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following genric skills:
- be able to apply new research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry;
- develop critical self-awareness and the capacity to shape and strengthen persuasive arguments; and
- communicate arguments and ideas effectively and articulately, both in writing and to others.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
106-046 Wild Writing: The Australian Imaginary
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- One essay of 1,500 words (40%), due during the semester
- One essay of 2,500 words, (60%), due in the examination period
- A class presentation is also a course requirement; this will consist either of work towards one of the essays, or a critical account of the primary and/or secondary reading material for a given week.
- Hurdle: This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in tutorials. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. All assessment tasks must be submitted in order to pass this subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours: a 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available.
- The Anthology of Colonial Australian Gothic Fiction (Ken Gelder and Rachael Weaver eds)
- The Anthology of Colonial Australian Romance Fiction (Ken Gelder and Rachael Weaver eds)
- Seven Poor Men of Sydney (Christina Stead)
- The Electrical Experience (Frank Moorhouse)
- Voss (Patrick White)
- The Hunter (Julia Leigh)
- The Slap (Christos Tsiolkas)
- Subject notes
Students who have completed 106-046 Australia and the Colonial Imaginary or 106-046/670-326 Wild Writing: The Australian Imginary are not eligible to enrol in this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) Graduate Certificate in Arts - English and Theatre Studies - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 11 April 2024