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Course, academic year 2023/2024
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20th-21st Century Literature Seminar 1 - KLIT033
Title: 20th-21st Century Literature Seminar 1
Guaranteed by: Department of Ecclesiastical History and Literary History (26-KCD)
Faculty: Catholic Theological Faculty
Actual: from 2023
Semester: winter
E-Credits: 4
Examination process: winter s.:
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/2, MC [HT]
Capacity: unknown / unknown (unknown)
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: yes / 15
Key competences: critical thinking
State of the course: taught
Language: English
Teaching methods: full-time
Teaching methods: full-time
Note: you can enroll for the course repeatedly
course can be enrolled in outside the study plan
enabled for web enrollment
priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
Guarantor: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D.
Teacher(s): Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D.
Annotation -
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (10.07.2023)
This course is dedicated to two prominent Czech writers of the 20th century, namely Karel Čapek and Jaroslav Hašek, approached from an international standpoint. The primary objective is to facilitate a thorough analysis of their selected dramatic and prose texts as outlined in the syllabus. Concurrently, the course aims to shed light on the international backdrop in which these works were created, subjecting them to critical examination and exploring their transnational influence.

As an additional goal, the course will undertake the translation of one of the satirical short stories, allowing students to grapple with the intricacies and nuances of literary translation. Lecturer Klára Kudlová will collaborate closely with other experts to ensure that the course is accessible to both domestic and international students, while also delivering tangible outcomes.

Upon completion of this course, at least one short story will be freshly translated and prepared for publication by Lolli Editions, thereby extending the course's international impact and granting a wider audience access to the works of Czech authors.
Aim of the course -
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (14.07.2023)

The aim of the course is to help students develop their critical thinking alongside reading literary texts. We will read and discuss the texts in English, trying to advance our cultural and political perspective of the era. 

Literature -
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (14.07.2023)

Obligatory joint reading:
HAŠEK, Jaroslav. Behind the Lines: Bugulma and other stories. Transl. Mark Corner. Prague: Karolinum Press, 1912. Available in aleph.nkp.cz, available in the Microsoft Teams of the subject.
HAŠEK, Jaroslav. The Good Soldier Švejk. Transl. Cecil Parrot. Penguin Books, 2000. Available in the Microsoft Teams of the subject. Reading pages 166-179 especially.
ČAPEK, Karel. R.U.R. Rossum’s Universal Robots. Trans. David Wyllie. Wildside Press, 2010. Available in Microsoft Teams.
ČAPEK, Karel. And So Ad Infinitum. The Life of the Insects. Transl. Paul Selver, Oxford University Press, 1924.
ČAPEK, Karel. Letters from England. Transl. Paul Selver. New York: Doubleday 1925.

Complementing optional reading:


PARROT, Cecil. The Bad Bohemian. The Extraordinary Life of Jaroslav Hašek. London: Sphere Books, 1983.

PHILMUS, Robert Michael. Matters of Translation: Karel Čapek and Paul Selver. Science Fiction Studies 2001, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 7–32.


DAVIS, Christie: Hašek, Švjek and the Poles. Brno Studie in English, Volume 40, No. 2, 2014, available: https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/_flysystem/fedora/pdf/131918.pdf
HAŠEK, Jaroslav. The Bachura Scandal and other stories and sketches. Transl. Alana Menhennet, London: Angel Books, 1991.
HAŠEK, Jaroslav. Svět zvířat. Povídky. Praha: Supraphon, 1982. Pro čtenáře NK dostupné v digitalniknihovna.cz
HAŠEK, Jaroslav. Malá zoologická zahrada. Praha: Práce, 1950.

Teaching methods -
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (10.07.2023)

During this course, specific primary and secondary texts in the syllabus and the Microsoft Teams workspace will be used for reading and critical assessment. During the seminar, PPT presentations prepared by non-Czech seminar students will be used to present specific topics. In addition, Czech students will participate in the translation of a selected short story, and as a bonus, the seminar will include video inputs from a guest speaker, Tom Conaghan, British editor and publisher of short stories from various world literatures.

Syllabus -
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (10.07.2023)

1. Jaroslav Hašek, his journalistic work.

2. Jaroslav Hašek, short stories.

3. Karel Čapek and contemporary satire.

4. Karel Čapek, early short story production.

6. Jaroslav Hašek as an author of documentary texts.

7. Jaroslav Hašek as the author of the novel The Good Soldier Svejk.

8. Karel Čapek as the author of travelogues.

9. Karel Čapek as an author of world dramas.

10. Political activity of Karel Čapek and Jaroslav Hašek.

Entry requirements
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (14.07.2023)

Entry requirements: advanced knowledge of English, enabling fluent reading of modern texts and discussions. Czech students will participate in minor translation tasks, non-Czech students will be asked to prepare presentations.

Rámcová schopnost anglicky číst beletristické texty a diskutovat o nich, ochota pokusit se o překlad. Podmínkou na straně studentů je dobrá vůle si angličtinu za chodu zlepšit, věnovat se v rozumné míře domácí přípravě, nikoliv perfektní angličtina. 

Course completion requirements -
Last update: Mgr. Klára Kudlová, Ph.D. (14.07.2023)

In order to receive credit, attendance at seminars, active work either in the form of participation in translation or in the form of preparing a powerpoint presentation are required.

 
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