Comparative Literature MA

This module introduces you to the wide range of interdisciplinary research happening in the Faculty of Arts. We invite you to ‘think outside the box’ in relation to your own research, while learning key research techniques and methods. The module aims to:

• introduce the ideas, practices, complexities, and opportunities of interdisciplinary research in the arts
• enable you to practice critical self-reflexivity about the conventions and expectations of your own disciplines in relation to those of others
• train you in core research skills necessary for graduate-level study
• develop your confidence in communicating research findings to non-specialist audiences

You will build on your existing research skills gained from your university career to date. Furthermore, you will develop a more nuanced understanding of your own research practice, inspiring you to explore different approaches questions. In addition, you will develop an understanding of professional practice in areas such as:

• academic publishing
• knowledge exchange
• dissertation planning and writing
• professional communication

This module is worth 20 credits.

This module explores how the relationships between the modern Western colonial empires and their former colonies or nations with which they established relationships, are reflected in twentieth-century short stories in French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.

Attention will be paid to the evolution of the short story form during the twentieth century, and to the engagement of these stories with cultures subject to or subjugated by the European colonial powers or the cultures of these powers themselves.

This module looks at literature of the period ‘around’ the French Revolution (1789-94), including the run-up to it and the political, cultural and literary battle over revolutionary ideas and threats that followed. The focus will be on two ‘canonical’ texts of German ‘revolutionary’ literature - J. W. Goethe’s novel Die Leiden des jungen Werther and Friedrich Schiller’s play Die Räuber - and their reception and adaptations in Britain between 1779 and 1800. One English poem from the post-revolution context, equally ‘canonical’, that attacks efforts to suppress reform in Britain: P. B. Shelley’s Mask of Anarchy will also be included, taking into account its place in Shelley’s work and its reception in Germany.

Through this topic of ‘revolution’ two key areas of comparative literature studies will be explored: transnational literature and the dynamics of cultural transfer and literary circulation.

This module consists of the selection, research and writing up of a topic in the field of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, chosen after consultation with the Course Director and other appropriate staff members.

This is a compulsory core module worth 60 credits.

This module will consist of a programme of reading to be agreed with the module director in a field of study within the area of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies.

This module will consist of a programme of reading to be agreed with the module director in a field of study within the area of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies.

Build a critical and reflective approach to your translation practice by understanding the varying theories that have been prominent in the Western world. You will study the history of translation, potentially including comparative literature, and different translation and transfer models across a range of genres.

You’ll have the opportunity to examine a number of case studies for each theory of translation, in a variety of different languages. But don’t worry, proficiency in these languages is not a prerequisite, as we will focus on translation dynamics.

This module is worth 20 credits.

This module will introduce you to the translation practices for three of the most common types of text: informative (such as news reports), expressive (such as poetry/drama) and operative (such adverts). You will build on the translation theories explored within other modules and have the opportunity to apply them within your own practice.

You’ll learn through lectures and language-specific workshops. Lectures will present various approaches to translation and within the workshops you’ll put your learning into practice by translating texts and discussing why you’ve chosen a particular method.

All our workshop leaders are specialists in their languages(s) and most have experience of working as a translator.

You will be assessed through one piece of summative coursework where you’ll translate three texts, each with an accompanying commentary.

Accessibility is an important consideration in audiovisual translation and this module will introduce you to the key practices involved. You’ll focus on the theory and practice(s) of different aspects of audiovisual translation, with the main focus being on subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and audio description.

You will also examine linguistic, technical, and cultural specificities of audiovisual translation in detail. The module will be delivered in a series of weekly two-hour seminars.

Whether you’re interested in opening up career opportunities around the world, giving your studies a boost by gaining access to research in other languages or simply planning to travel after your studies, developing foreign language skills will help you stand out from the crowd.

We offer nine languages and you can start as a beginner or at a more advanced level.

• Arabic
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Mandarin Chinese
• Russian
• Spanish

You may also choose from the following foreign language-related modules:

• Language and Language Learning
• Culture of Arabic Language
• Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages
• Exploring Intercultural Awareness

Find out more about learning a language alongside your studies

Further develop your English language skills focussing on areas which are important for language professionals:

• lexis, structure and functions
• receptive and productive skills
• textual aspects
• situational constraints, pragmatics and register
• relevant cultural background
• corpus research methods for register, genre and discourse analysis.

You’ll also discover a range valuable sources of information and guidance which will benefit you throughout your career.