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ENGL 369: The Postcolonial Indian Novel in English

Course Convenor: Dr Lindsey Moore

Seminar Time and Venue: Wednesday 9am – 11am, Bowland North SR14 (Term 2)

Course Aims and Objectives:
Indian literature has dominated the stage of postcolonial writing in English since the publication of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children (winner of the 1981 Booker Prize and twice subsequently judged ‘Booker of Bookers’). This course sets Rushdie's novel in the context of wider developments in postcolonial Indian fiction in English from the 1970s to the present, considering a range of perspectives on contemporary India. It emphasises the relationship between nation and narration, examining ways in which writers engage a colonial legacy, postcolonial politics, extreme cultural and economic diversity – including gendered, religious, class and caste margins – and globalisation. We attend to the varied shapes, styles and idioms of the postcolonial Indian novel and to the major historical events which these works foreground. We also consider the mutual influence of Indian literature in English and postcolonial theory.

Assessment:
1 x 20-minute Group Presentation (20%); 1 x 4,000-word Essay (own topic) (80%).

Submission Deadline:
Essay = 12 noon, Monday Week 1/Term 3.

Contact:
9 x 2-hour seminars; one independent study/reading week, including a film screening.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• demonstrate detailed knowledge of the primary material and of thematic and stylistic connections and differences between texts on the course;
• demonstrate awareness of some of the historical, social, cultural and political contexts reflected in the fiction under scrutiny;
• draw upon relevant critical/theoretical paradigms, particularly those emerging from postcolonial studies;
• demonstrate knowledge of issues pertaining to the production and reception of postcolonial Indian fiction in English;
• demonstrate their ability as close readers of literary texts;
• demonstrate effective communication skills (both oral and written) in the presentation of arguments and complex issues;
• demonstrate their ability to work independently and in a group;
• pursue an independent, directed topic relating to a particular aspect or aspects of the course through the long essay;
• derive independent critical responses from the core texts, drawing also on a range of relevant secondary material.

Primary Texts:

Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger (2008)
Amit Chaudhuri, Afternoon Raag (1993)
Anita Desai, Clear Light of Day (1980)
Manju Kapur, A Married Woman (2003)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust (1975)
Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance (1995)
Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children (1981)
You are expected to have a copy of each of the primary texts for use in class. Any edition is acceptable. Chaudhuri’s novel is also available in an affordable Picador omnibus edition.

Students do not need to purchase Earth, dir. Deepa Mehta (1995).

Midnight’s Children and A Fine Balance are each in excess of 500 pgs and MC is stylistically challenging: we will dedicate 2 course weeks each to these texts. You are strongly advised to read at least one of these over summer.

Two introductions to key anthologies will be made available on moodle by the start of the course and raise key issues in the field.

Secondary Reading: See the ENGL 369 Moodle site.

Week by Week Programme

Week 1
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust (1975)

Week 2
Anita Desai, Clear Light of Day (1980)

Week 3
Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children (1981)

Week 4
Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children (1981)

Week 5
Amit Chaudhuri, Afternoon Raag (1993)

Week 6
Independent Study Week should focus on primary reading. Screening of Earth, dir. Deepa Mehta, in the usual seminar slot.

Week 7
Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance (1995)

Week 8
Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance (1995)

Week 9
Manju Kapur, A Married Woman (2003)

Week 10  
Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger (2008)

Back to: ENGL 367

Forward to: ENGL 371

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