ECOLOGY AND LITERATURE

The course is part of:
- the Interdisciplinary activities [C] for the the English Studies curriculum of the Master's Degree Programme in European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures (LLEAP) degree and the Joint European Master Degree in English and American Literary and Cultural Studies.
- the Interdisciplinary activities [C] for the Master’s Degree in Environmental Humanities (EH).
- the Core educational activities [B] of the Master's Degree Programme in Language and Civilisation of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (LICAAM - South Asian Curriculum)

The main objective of this course is to enable students to address the relationship between literary/cultural texts and ecological issues from a theoretical perspective with a high degree of self-direction or autonomy.

Advanced proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing in English.

Literary Quiz: Who is that famous, frightening creature who speaks French and eats a plant-based diet?
Situated in the context of a planetary environmental crisis, this course examines the multiple ways in which literature represents, illuminates, and questions relationships between the human, the more-than-human, and the posthuman. We will explore these concepts through a modern literary myth, comparing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with recent adaptations: Jeanette Winterson’s Frankissstein: A Love Story and various film versions (from Mel Brooks to Guillermo del Toro).
We will situate Shelley’s text in its historical context, examining the culture and science of the Romantic era, when modern concepts of nature and the environment were crucially redefined. We will then read the two novels ecocritically to explore how they illuminate the role of imagination in making sense of the past, the present, and—perhaps—the future of the troubled epoch we call the Anthropocene.

Required Texts:

Mary Shelley, FRANKENSTEIN (Recommended edition: Penguin 2003)
Jeanette Winterson, FRANKISSSTEIN: A LOVE STORY (Vintage 2025)

Additional critical materials will be available on the Moodle page.

The final written exam will consist of open questions covering the mandatory texts, class discussions, and activities.

written

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

Answering fewer than three questions will automatically result in a failing grade.
Inaccurate citations of names and titles will negatively impact the grade.
Adhering to the recommended length for answers (based on the space provided on the examination sheet) is essential.

The course will involve lectures and class discussions. Students are invted to attend regularly and to complete the assigned readings before each class.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development