Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Organization
- BTK Department of English Studies
- Code
- BMI-ANGD17-CK5aE.02
- Title
- Sister Arts - Foundations and Perspectives: Literary themes in Victorian painting
- Usual semester
- Autumn
- Published semester
- 2026/27/1
- ECTS
- 3
- Language
- en
- Learning outcomes
- By providing an insight into the art of the Victorian age, students are introduced to the changing society and culture of England in the given period. The course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the possibilities inherent in the comparative studies of the different branches of art, as well as to show that a picture depicting a literary scene is often more than ‘mere’ illustration. A) Knowledge Basic knowledge of Victorian history, culture and literature. Awareness of cultural and historical processes and changes. Basic knowledge requisite for and practice in researching visual and textual sources, the cognitive and emotional reception and evaluation of texts, awareness of the need for and methods of validating interpretations. Familiarity with professional terminology in the given field. (B) Skills Obtain overviews on various phases of British culture. Obtain an ability to use knowledge about and practice of the analysis of images in different contexts. Acquire knowledge of professional terminology related to the discussed fields. Obtain an ability to distinguish various possible meanings of works of art and to argue for or against such possibilities both orally and in writing. Ability to establish connections between texts and images in given cultural contexts. (C) Attitudes An open attitude towards the various possibilities of meanings in art and literature. Readiness to view and analyse works of art in their cultural context. A critical attitude towards works of art and texts in the context of current approaches. (D) Autonomy and responsibility Making independent decisions in questions of interpretation. Willingness to actively participate in debates about interpretation of visual culture. Expressing articulated, independent, balanced and well-informed views and arguments reflecting a progressive and ethically responsible value system.
- Course content
- The discussion of literary pieces and literary characters, their critical reception and ways of interpretation, concerning authors like Malory, Shakespeare, Keats, Tennyson, D.G. Rossetti; and literary characters like King Arthur, Sir Galahad, Hamlet and Ophelia, La Belle Dame sans Merci, the Lady of Shalott or Mariana.
- Assessment method
- Two in-class tests (based on the material of the classes). A presentation on any topic related to the material of the course. Evaluation: contribution to discussions, in-class test, presentation.
- Bibliography
- Recommended reading: Mancoff, Debra N. The Return of King Arthur: The Legend through Victorian Eyes. New York: Abrams, 1995. Rose, Andrea. The Pre-Raphaelites. London: Phaidon Press, 1992. Thomas, Julia. Victorian Narrative Painting. London: Tate Publishing, 2000. Wood, Christopher. Victorian Painting. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1999. Yeates, Amelia és Serena Trowbridge, eds. Pre-Raphaelite Masculinities. Ashgate Publishing, 2014.