BANKING UNIVERSITY OF HO CHI MINH CITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE
(2020-2021)

I. Course objective:
The course deals with literary theory with respect to British and American literature. The
students are introduced to various literary terms whose knowledge will be useful for them in
their courses of British and American literature. The purpose of the course is improvement of
students' abilities of literary analysis.
II. Study materials
[1] Thornley, C.G. & Roberts, G. (1984). An Outline of English Literature. England: Longman.
[2] High, P. B. (1986). An Outline of American Literature, Malaysia: Longman.

III. Course outline:

Session 1 – July 20, 2021
1. AN OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE
Students read about:
 Definition of “Literature”
 Forms of written literature
 Common literary devices
Session 2 - July 22, 2021
2. AN OVERVIEW OF BRITISH LITERATURE
Group 1 and 2’s presentations
Session 3 – July 27, 2021
3. DAFFODILS - WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
Group 3’s presentation
Home assignment 1
Session 4 – July 29, 2021
4. WUTHERING HEIGHTS - EMILY BRONTE
Group 4’s presentation
Session 5 – Aug 3, 2021
5. ARABY – JAMES JOYCE
Group 5’s presentation
Home assignment 2
Session 6 – Aug 5, 2021

1
 6. AN OVERVIEW OF AMERICAN LITERATURE
Group 6’s presentation
MIDTERM TEST
Session 7 – Aug 10, 2021
7. RIP VAN WINKLE - WASHINGTON IRVING
Group 7’s presentation
Session 8 – Aug 17, 2021
8. I HEARD A FLY BUZZ WHEN I DIE – EMILY DICKINSON
Group 8’s presentation
Home assignment 3
Session 9 – Aug 24, 2021
9. ROMAN FEVER – EDITH WHARTON
Group 9’s presentation

IV. Assessment
1. Attendance: 10 %
2. Mid-term test: 20 %
3. Group presentation: 10 %
4. Home assignments: 10 %
5. Final Test: 50 %