English - Free topic D: Literature as World Making Activity
Course content
In this course we will study Anglophone world literature as an example of a world-making activity. Taking a point of departure in theoretical reflections on the differences between world and globe, and between cosmopolitanism and globalisation, the course explores how literature can help us manoeuvre in complex, interdependent and turbulent times. We will discuss representations of friendship, (extended) family, cosmopolitan imaginaries, exilic belonging and ethical demands as concrete examples of world-making activities. Scholars such as Hannah Arendt, Jacques Derrida and Pheng Cheah will guide our reading of a selection of novels.
Engelsk
Seminar discussions
Penelope Lively’s Moon Tiger (1987), Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient (1992), Hisham Matar’s My Friends (2024), Kamila Shamsie’s Best of Friends (2022), Dina Nayeri’s Refuge (2017), and Dinaw Mengestu’s Someone Like Us (2024), Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss (2006) and E.M. Forster, A Passage to India (1924).
This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.
Exchange and international fee-paying guest students: apply for courses in Mobility Online. Questions regarding course registration should be directed to incomingmobility@adm.ku.dk.
• Sprogkrav, engelsk (eksempel): Proof of English proficiency is required if you want to take this course. Find the requirements here: https://studies.ku.dk/study-abroad/exchange/course-information/proof-of-english-proficiency/
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Portfolio, A joint portfolio uploaded in digital exam: Deadline January 5th 2026
- Type of assessment details
- 4 essays of 5-6 pages on set topics with feedback on the first
3 essays. Questions formulated by teachers will be released two
weeks before respective submission deadlines.
1st essay week 4; 2nd essay week 8; 3rd essay week 12; 4th essay – final portfolio deadline. Each essay counts as 25% of the final grade.
Portfolio deadline: January 5th 2026 - Examination prerequisites
-
This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Criteria for exam assessment
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 56
- Preparation
- 353,5
- English
- 409,5
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- HENKE2504U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Full Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Price
-
Dette er et kursus via tompladsordningen mod betaling på Åbent Universitet. Tilmeld dig og se aktuel prisoversigt på denne side.
- Schedulegroup
-
See schedule
- Studyboard
- Study board of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting department
- Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
Course Coordinators
- Eva Rask Knudsen (5-6e7b6a7c7449717e7637747e376d74)
- Ulla Rahbek (4-7d74746948707d7536737d366c73)
Se skema
Er du BA- eller KA-studerende?
Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende