ECTS:
6
Syllabus
The aim of the course is to present Central European literature in chronological and typological
terms and to introduce the most important writers of the region and their work (F. Kafka, B.
Schulz, R. Musil, D. Kiš, W. Gombrowicz, J. Hašek, B. Hrabal, M. Kunder, Cz. Miłosz. G. Konrád, P.
Esterházy etc.). The most important trends in the XX and XXI century Central European literature
(genres, topics, plots) will be discussed against the background of historical, political and social
events, determining the political and historical signifi cance of Central European literature. The
analysis of literary works, constituting the canon of Central European literature, will also focus on
the relations of Central European “Republic of letters” with Slavic (e.g. Russian literature) and
Balkan literatures.
While looking for an answer to the question what Central European literature is about, we will
consider such concepts as literary space but also the genres travelogue, reportage and the
Central European novel.
During the course students will be participating in a series of online activities that will enable and
improve their ability to interconnect various literary, historical, cultural and political phenomena,
justifying their infl uence on the shape of contemporary culture of Central Europe. Students will
learn to interpret selected literary works and phenomena, placing them in a historical and literary
context, and on the basis of acquired knowledge they will acquire the ability to understand other
cultures.
Teaching techniques: lectures, discussions during classes, collaborative tasks, fi nal project
presentation
Tools: MS Teams, a dedicated course website
Examination dates and format: Continuous assessment on task performance, a fi nal individual
project at the end of the semester.
Module aim
This course will:
• encourage students to consider problems from multiple perspectives.
• highlight transnational relationships and intercultural understanding.
• enable acquisition of transferable and practical skills (media competences, communication
and presentation skills).
Information
Year: 2020/2021
Semester: Summer
Hours: 30
Language: English
Building:
Room:
Tips:
Topic: The Canon of the Central European Literature
Module: 03-EPI- CCE
Prerequisites
Study track: European Identities<br />
Basic knowledge of the history of European literature and culture<br />Year(s) 2 – 3 BA undergraduate<br />
Spring semester, 2021, 15 weeks; 1.03.2021<br />
Max. enrolement: 10 students devided into 2 gropus (2 x 5 students)<br />
Location: Virtual campus, MS Teams, original location: Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology,
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań<br />
Tools: MS Teams, a dedicated course website
Lecturer
prof. Zivko Ivanov
Academic title: professor
Email: zhivanovs@gmail.com
Reading list
• Jiří Trávníček, The Central European Novel (Ten Commentaries), ‘Russian Literature’, Vol. 77,
Issue 1, 1 January 2015, pp. 115-122.
• Csaba G. Kiss, Understanding Central Europe: Nations and Sterotypes. Essays from the
Adriatic to the Baltic Sea, Nap Kiado 'Sun' pulbishing, Budapest, 2013.
• Marcin Moskalewicz, Wojciech Przybylski (eds.), Understanding Central Europe, Routledge,
2019.
• Czesław Miłosz, Native Realm: A Search for Self-Defi nition, trans. Catherine S. Leach, Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, 2002.
