| Course Type | Course Code | No. Of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Elective | SOL2EN304 | 4 |
Semester and Year Offered: I and III
Course Coordinator and Team:Dr.Sanju Thomas
Email of course coordinator:sanju[at]aud[dot]ac[dot]in
Pre-requisites: None
Aim: Indian English fiction has undeniably attained a grand stature among the literatures of the world. The post-Salman Rushdie era has brought in so much of commercial and critical success to Indian English fiction that it has spurred great ambition and prolific literary activities, with many Indians aspiring to write English fiction! Outside India, Indian English fiction is taken as representative writings from India, though at home the ‘Indianness’ of Indian English fiction is almost always questioned. A course in contemporary Indian English fiction will briefly review the history of Indian English fiction tracing it from its colonial origins to the postcolonial times to look at the latest trends, and how they paint the larger picture of India. Themes of nation, culture, politics, identity and gender will be taken up for in-depth analysis and discussions through representative texts. The aim will also be to understand and assess the cross-cultural impact of these writings.
Brief description of modules/ Main modules:
Module 1: What is Indian English Fiction?
This module takes the students through a brief history of Indian English fiction, and also attempts to problematize the concept of Indian English fiction.
Module 2: Midnight’s Children
This text is considered to have heralded in the golden age of Indian English fiction. A thorough analysis of the text which deals with its many themes, politics and language.
Module 3: The God of Small Things
This text takes forward the legacy of Midnight’s Children in more ways than one. A detailed study of the text will be undertaken especially with regard to its representation of caste, gender, of the local, and its locale.
Module 4: The Hungry Tide
A detailed reading in relation to the themes of alternate history, representation of the subaltern.
Module 5: The White Tiger (if time permits)
Analysis of the representation of the Indian society, identity and morality
In addition, each student will be expected to read 1 more novel as part of assessment, from the indicative list given below:
Tentative Assessment schedule with details of weightage:
S.No | Assessment | Date/period in which Assessment will take place | Weightage |
1 | Writing assignment | Mid-September | 30% |
2 | Presentations | Early November | 30% |
3 | End term assessment | End of November | 40% |
