Contemporary English studies: "And So It Goes…" Kurt Vonnegut’s "Mother Night” 2510-f1ENG2S-CES-MN

The aim of the class is to introduce the students to a postmodern account of the tragic events of World War II from the perspective of a survivor. The course will focus on both the historical aspects of the greatest conflict of the 20th century, and on those elements of postmodern poetics that are pertinent to the depictions of historical events. The course is conducted to commemmorate the 80th annoversary of the end of World War II.

During the classes we will be conducting a critical analysis of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Mother Night. The work has been unjustly overshadowed by Vonnegut's later accomplishments, but is still seminal to Vonnegut's legacy, and more broadly, American postmodern war fiction.

Total student workload

30 hours - seminar 10 hours - reading and preparation for classes 20 hours - writing and editing the midterm essay 30 hours - writing and editing the final essay

Learning outcomes - knowledge

W1: The graduate has basic knowledge of the American postmodern literature as well as the work of Kurt Vonnegutand is familiar with its distinctive features (K_W04), W2: The graduate has basic knowledge of selected historical, social, religious, philosophical and political issues determining the development of the postmodern literature, and the work of Kurt Vonnegut specifically (K_W08).

Learning outcomes - skills

U1: The graduate is able to place the literature of Kurt Vonnegut in a general historical and cultural context (K_U09), U2: The graduate is able to analyze and interpret the fiction of Kurt Vonnegut with the use of basic terminology and appropriate methods (K_U11), U3: The graduate is able to recognize the literary conventions of American postmodern literature (K_U10).

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K1: The graduate is able to work and assume various roles in a team whilst analyzing a work of American postmodern literature (K_K02), K2: The graduate appreciates the tradition and cultural heritage of the United States of America and is aware of their responsibility for preserving them (K_K05).

Expository teaching methods

- description
- discussion

Exploratory teaching methods

- seminar
- biographical
- brainstorming
- case study

Course coordinators

Jarosław Hetman

Assessment criteria

Responsive participation in classes - K1, U1, U3. - 20% of the final grade

Midterm essay: W1, W2, W3, U2, U3. - 30 % of the final grade

Final essay: W1, W2, W3, U1, U2, U3. - 50% of the final grade

60%-71% = 3.

72%-76% = 3+

77%-84% = 4.

85%-90% = 4+

91%-100% = 5.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2510-f1ENG2S-CES-MN in USOSweb