The Novels of E.M. Forster (Summer Term 2019)
The Novels of E.M. Forster (Summer Term 2019)
E.M. Forster was one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th century and remains popular among readers, critics, and adaptors alike. Having produced some of the most famous English novels of the 20th century over the course of 20 years, including Howards End (1910) and A Passage to India (1924), Forster largely retired from writing fiction when he was only in his forties, turning towards criticism and biographies.
In his books, he usually paints a somewhat bleak and bittersweet picture of English society in decline – his writing is rich in both sharp and witty observations and heart-breaking details, depicting the sometimes comic and often tragic consequences of upper-class English people causing havoc at home and abroad. Moreover, his novels address class issues, queer desire(s), and the future of the British Empire.
In this seminar, we will scrutinise three of Forster’s six novels in more detail: his lesserknown debut, Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), A Room with a View (1908), as well as the posthumously published Maurice (1971), one of the first English novels to openly depict a homosexual love story. We will also consider some of the existing film adaptations of these works, including the award-winning films by Merchant Ivory Productions.
NB: This course prepares students for “Schriftliches Staatsexamen: Klausur Englische Literaturwissenschaft” in the summer/fall 2019.
E.M. Forster was one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th century and remains popular among readers, critics, and adaptors alike. Having produced some of the most famous English novels of the 20th century over the course of 20 years, including Howards End (1910) and A Passage to India (1924), Forster largely retired from writing fiction when he was only in his forties, turning towards criticism and biographies.
In his books, he usually paints a somewhat bleak and bittersweet picture of English society in decline – his writing is rich in both sharp and witty observations and heart-breaking details, depicting the sometimes comic and often tragic consequences of upper-class English people causing havoc at home and abroad. Moreover, his novels address class issues, queer
desire(s), and the future of the British Empire.
In this seminar, we will scrutinise three of Forster’s six novels in more detail: his lesserknown debut, Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), A Room with a View (1908), as well as the posthumously published Maurice (1971), one of the first English novels to openly depict a homosexual love story. We will also consider some of the existing film adaptations of these works, including the award-winning films by Merchant Ivory Productions.
NB: This course prepares students for “Schriftliches Staatsexamen: Klausur Englische
Literaturwissenschaft” in the summer/fall 2019.