The European Novella (Level 5)

About this course

The course considers the European novella through texts by writers including Stifter, Storm, Mann, Zweig, Prévost, Mérimée, de Beauvoir, Ginzburg and Calvino. Discussion addresses how tightly structured narratives and concentrated themes engage with ethical questions, as well as how novellas reflect political and cultural contexts across periods and regions. The teaching draws on a range of theoretical and methodological approaches. Assessment consists of a 2,000-word essay and a two-hour in-class test.

What you'll learn

• Analyse how novella structure and focused thematic development convey ethical concerns.
• Examine relationships between literary texts and the political and cultural contexts in which they were produced.
• Compare examples of the European novella from different periods and regions.
• Use theoretical and methodological approaches when discussing selected novellas.

Is this course right for you?

Listed as suitable for all levels, the course is intended for learners willing to engage closely with a varied selection of European literary texts and their historical contexts. It includes formal academic assessment through an essay and an in-class test.

• Requires written work in the form of a 2,000-word essay.
• Includes a two-hour in-class test.
• Can be taken as a standalone short course or as part of a Certificate of Higher Education.