LIT303: The Catholic Imagination in Modern Literature
Key details
| Accredited towards | Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts |
| Unit type | Elective unit |
| Credit points | 6 |
| Indicative contact hours | 3 hours per week |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Offered in | Semester 2 |
| Tuition fee | Learn more |
Overview
This unit investigates different aspects of the Catholic imagination as expressed in important works of modern literature, from various national backgrounds, covering the period from the early twentieth-century to today. We identify these works’ Catholic themes and consider the literary, cultural, historical and ecclesial contexts in which they are grounded. Consideration will be given to the idea of the Catholic writer and the problems inherent in defining a Catholic literature. Writers studied may include G.K. Chesterton, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene and Flannery O’Connor.
Learning outcomes
The unit learning outcomes develop in students an awareness of the value and relevance of the study strand. On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:
- identify and describe the relationship between various texts and their social, historical and literary contexts;
- estimate the influence and expression of Catholic and Christian beliefs in the works of a variety of authors;
- describe, discuss and evaluate the nature and meaning of the Catholic experience, as seen through the eyes of different writers;
- research, read critically and write analyses of literary texts at an advanced level;
- test ideas and arguments in both written and oral forms, and consider the implications of any critical and informed responses for their intellectual position;
- explore issues arising from the set works;
- summarise information and communicate in a persuasive, logical and coherent manner.
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