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Introduction to World Literature
(AY 2024/2025, Semester 2)

Download course syllabus here: Intro to World Literature syllabus.pdf

Week 1. Introduction

Why study Literature?

What is World Literature?

Lecture slides: W1. Introduction.pptx

COLONIAL TEXTS

Week 2. Historical context

The 1886 Colonial and Indian Exhibition

Lecture slides: W2. Historical context (for students).pptx

Week 3. Understanding the poem

Reading: Tennyson, "Opening of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition by the Queen" 

Lecture slides: W3. Understanding the poem (for students).pptx

PDF: Tennyson. Opening of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition.pdf

Week 4. "Britain's myriad voices call": Polyphonic empire

Reading: Tennyson, "Opening of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition by the Queen"

Lecture slides: W4. Polyphonic empire (for students).pptx

PDF: Trevelyan. An Indian Railway.pdf

Week 5. Natives and Sahibs

Reading: Trevelyan, "An Indian Railway"

Lecture slides: 

Week 6. The "civilizing mission"

Reading: Trevelyan, "The Gulf Between Us"

Lecture slides: 

PDF: Trevelyan. The Gulf Between Us.pdf

POSTCOLONIAL RESPONSES

Week 7. The postcolonial politics of language

Lecture slides: 

Assignment instructions: Take home written assignment instructions.pdf

Sample paragraph

Take-home written assignment due

Week 8. Historical context

Indian independence movements

Lecture slides: 

Week 9. Assignment feedback and writing workshop

Lecture slides: 

Week 10. History, nation, and narration: National allegory

Reading: extracts from Rushdie, Midnight's Children (Parts 1 and 2)

Lecture slides:

PDF: Rushdie. Midnight's Children part 1.pdf

PDF: Rushdie. Midnight's Children part 2.pdf

Week 11. History, nation, and narration: Polyphonic empire

Reading: extracts from Rushdie, Midnight's Children (Part 3)

Lecture slides: 

PDF: Rushdie. Midnight's Children part 3.pdf

Week 12. 1947 Partition of India

Reading: extracts from Rushdie, Midnight's Children (Part 3)

Lecture slides: 

Week 13. Conclusion

Lecture slides: 

In-class writing test

Week 14. In-class writing test feedback

Student consultation sessions

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