COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS:
While, traditionally, the study of anglophone literature and culture, both in universities and schools, has often focused on material from the British Isles and the United States, recent decades have brought increased awareness that it is important to extend our perspective and also consider other parts of the anglophone world, such as the Caribbean. Thus, this seminar gives students (many of whom will probably be new to Caribbean Studies) the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the history and culture/s of this region, as well as exploring some key authors, texts and topics of anglophone Caribbean literature from the mid-20th century to the present. Our thematic focus will be on the portrayal of female sensibilities (mainly by female, but partly also male, writers), in different generations and life situations. For instance, we will reflect on representations of how Caribbean women’s lives have been affected by colonial history and its long-lasting after-effects; by social hierarchies in terms of ‘race’, class and gender; by intercultural encounters and cultural hybridity; migration and diaspora; by familial and textual genealogies; as well as by experiences of trauma, resistance and recuperation. Depending on student interests, we may also spend a little time reflecting on how Caribbean literary texts, and the issues they raise, can be included in EFL school-teaching.

SET TEXTS:
We will read two novels in their entirety; these are:
• Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea (1st publ. 1966)
• Ramabai Espinet, The Swinging Bridge (1st publ. 2003)
Student should purchase these in advance (no prescribed editions).
In addition, we will read a selection of short stories (e.g. by Paule Marshall, Pauline Melville, Olive Senior and Jacob Ross), as well as some secondary literature. All these shorter texts will be made available via our online course platform Stud.IP.

OPTIONAL EXTRA READING:
If you would like to do some preliminary / extra reading on social and literary history, and/or need advice on texts to read in preparation for your presentations, you will be able to access a bibliography of key introductory texts on Stud.IP from the beginning of term onwards.
Some of those texts will also be made available via our course bookshelf in the university library.

COURSEWORK, CREDITS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Requirements for passing this course and acquiring credits are:
1) Regular attendance & active participation
2) 1 graded assignment / Prüfungsleistung. In this course, this takes the form of a presentation (c.15–30 min.) with subsequent write-up (c.10 pp.)