Creative Writing and Reading

Aim

On completion of the course, the student should in English be able to:

• Account for central stylistic, narratological, and aesthetic traits in literary works in different genres.
• Discuss literary works regarding the craft of literary writing
• Apply knowledge from about literary works in their own creative writing
• In discussions of their own creative writing in different genres, deliver and take constructive criticism.
• With analytical terms from literary studies account for stylistic and other aesthetic choices in their own creative writing in different genres.

Content

In this course, literary works in English of different genres are studied with a focus on the craft of literary writing. Literary works in English will be analyzed with basic terms from literary studies when it comes to form as well as content, focusing especially on stylistics, themes, linguistic and aesthetic effects, narratological elements, and literary form. This study of literary works forms the foundation for students’ individual creative writing in the course, where the literary works studied serve as inspiration or material for artistic imitation.

The course focuses on literary works in the main genres of poetry, prose fiction, and drama, as well genre-defying experimental literature. Through close study of established literary texts, the students develop literary awareness in their own creative writing. Through discussion of their own creative writing in different genres, the students develop their own writing and their ability to formulate and then in revisions of their own work process constructive criticism.