Literature of Migration in English

On completion of the course students will be able to:

• demonstrate a familiarity with contemporary literary and cultural theory and concepts related to the theme of migration in relation to theories of postcolonialism, postnationalism, transculturality and cosmopolitanism
• show a critical understanding of a selection of works pertaining to literature of migration in English in the light of these theories and concepts in the form of independent analyses and interpretations
• communicate and argue for, orally and in writing, their own interpretations and critical judgments of the literary, as well as the critical and theoretical, texts in clear and correct academic English
• critically reflect upon and give constructive criticism to the work of their peers and to participate in critical debates within the scope of the course

The course focuses on the theme of migration in literature in English from 1945 to the present. It centres on an in-depth analysis of a number of representative literary works in English which address the redefinition of various experiences of identity, nationality, home and belonging in relation to both forced and voluntary migration. The comparative study of the selected literary works will highlight the ways in which fixed constructs of place and identity have been questioned by migration, which has moved from a perceived threat to the stability of the nation-state and its imagined community to being regarded as an inherent component of the history of national collectives. The narratives of the selected texts as well as their authors are epitomes of the transcultural identities fostered by migration. The analysis of these literary texts will be approached with reference to theories of postcolonialism, postnationalism, transculturality and cosmopolitanism.

The course is examined through continuous assessment of seminar activities, oral and written work, and a final paper.

The course consists of small-group teaching in seminars, pre-seminar assignments, and written responses to literary as well as critical and theoretical texts. All teaching is conducted in English.

The Swedish grades U–VG.