Waiyee Loh
Associate Professor of World Literature
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
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