The objective of this course is to acquaint the students with the rich cultural heritage of ancient Indian literature, especially Sanskrit Literature. Indian classical literature can claim the rare distinction of attaining the summit of creative excellence and artistic/aesthetic sensibility, especially in Sanskrit in the immortal plays of Kalidasa, the epics The Ramayana and The Mahabharata, Shudraka’s Mrcchakatika, among others. Although Srimanta Sankaradeva of Assam cannot be regarded as ‘classical’ from the purview of temporality, his works are characterised by classical sensibilities and in the context of Assamese literature and culture, his works are held as immortal classics. Therefore, Sankardeva’s inclusion in this course is determined by his works’ timeless appeal and relevance. One of his famous plays Parijata Harana has been included.

After completing this course, the learner shall be in a position to understand and appreciate the rich Indian classical literary tradition including its distinctive aesthetic philosophies. It would provide them with the conceptual resources to make a comparative assessment between the Indian and the Western classical tradition, thereby enabling their knowledge and understanding of the two great ancient literary traditions.

European Classical literature implies the literature of ancient Greece and Rome. The study of ‘ancient Greek literature’ implies a study of literature written in Greek in the pre-Christian period, by non-Christians in the first six centuries of the Christian era. Roman literature, written in the Latin language remains an enduring legacy of the culture of ancient Rome. Latin literature drew heavily on the traditions of other cultures, particularly the more mature literary tradition of Greece, and the strong influence of earlier Greek authors are seen. The purpose of this course is to acquaint learners with the great heritage of European classical literature, starting from Homer’s epic The Iliad to the satires of Horace. The importance of this course rests on the fact that English literature is heavily indebted to the classical works of Greece and Rome. Whether it is tragedy or comedy, satire or criticism, epic or lyric, the influence of classical literature in the works of the English authors is clearly in evidence. Therefore, learners will be acquainted with immortal classics like The Iliad and Metamorphosis, they get to learn about the difference between the Greek classics and the Latin classics, the different genres dabbled in by the classical writers, such as, tragedy, comedy, epic, satire, criticism and so forth.

After the completion of the course, the learners shall be in a position to understand the source of Western literary paradigm – a formation that was responsible for constituting the great tradition of the western canon, and one which govern our critical or comparative touchstone on ‘what good literature ought to be.’

Indian Writing in English refers to the body of work by writers in India who write English and whose native language could be one of the numerous languages of India. It is also associated with the works of members of the Indian Diaspora. As a category, this production comes under the broader realm of postcolonial literature- the production from previously colonized countries such as India. Indian English Literature is an honest enterprise to demonstrate the ever rare gems of Indian Writing in English. From being singular and exceptional, rather gradual native flare - up of geniuses, Indian Writing in English has turned out to be a new form of Indian culture and voice in which India converses regularly. Indian Writers - poets, novelists, essayists, and dramatists have been making momentous and considerable contributions to world literature since pre - Independence era, the past few years have witnessed a gigantic prospering and thriving of Indian English Writing in the global market. Indian English Literature has attained an independent status in the realm of world Literature. Wide ranges of themes are dealt within Indian Writing in English. While this literature continues to reflect Indian culture, tradition, social values and even Indian history through the depiction of life in India and Indians living elsewhere, recent Indian English fiction has been trying to give expression to the Indian experience of the modern predicaments. The aim of this course is to introduce learners to Indian Writing in English from the colonial to the postcolonial period. Issues such as identity politics, gendered differences, home, dislocation, language among others shall be underscored with the intention to understand the diversity of Indian culture and tradition across spatiality.

It is believed that learners, after the culmination of this course, shall be in a better position to appreciate the diversity of customs and traditions in India, would be able to map the intellectual trajectory from the pre- to post -independence period, and get the feel of the advancement that Indian writers in English are making, for which they are receiving plaudits, both at home as well as abroad.

The objective of this course is to acquaint the learners with British poetry and drama from Chaucer to Shakespeare. The texts prescribed relate to the Age of Chaucer, Pre-Elizabethan and Elizabethan periods. Shakespeare figures predominantly in this course, with a tragedy, comedy and two sonnets prescribed. Marlowe’s play encapsulates the spirit of the Renaissance, thereby placing the Elizabethan period in a proper perspective.

After completing this course, the learners would be in a position to determine the influence of the European Renaissance on the works of the Elizabethan authors, including Shakespeare.

The objective of this course is to introduce the learners to American literature, a field that could be considered as comparatively recent in formulation, when compared to the literature of Britain and Continental Europe. It is a literature steeped in the reactionary philosophy of its Puritan forbears, and has a strong individualistic spirit running through it. The reality or illusion of the Great American Dream, the transcendentalist movement, the history of slavery in the South, the great economic depression etc., forms important contexts to American history and literature, and this course would attempt to highlight these issues as much as possible. All of these would be taken up in this course.

It is hoped that learners would get a feel of American literature and they will be able to understand the poetics and politics of a literature characterised both by liberal and reactionary ideals.

Popular literature includes those writings intended for the masses and those that find favour with large audiences. It can be distinguished from artistic literature in that it is designed primarily to entertain (brittania.com). The objective of this course is to acquaint learners with popular literature, such as crime thriller, graphic fiction, children’s literature and so forth, generally regarded by purists to be “low-brow‟ and meant for easy mass consumption. However, it would be wrong to assume such a position insofar as the lines of distinction between what is literary and what is popular tends to be blurred.

After the completion of this course, it is believed that learners would be in a position to appreciate the presence of a creative space and process that has the potential to affect readers to a degree that high-brow literature cannot achieve due to its propensity to target only a niche audience.

English literature of the Seventeenth and the Eighteenth century was dominated by epoch-making political events, such as the Puritan Interregnum and the Restoration. These events were responsible for ushering in changes in the thought-processes of poets like Milton and Pope, dramatists like Webster and Behn, and so forth. From the romantic excesses of the Elizabethan literature to a literature marked by restraint and order, the learners would be in a position to experience a whole gamut of feelings that define a period and contradistinguishing it from another.

After the completion of this course, learners will be in a position to understand the ways in which English drama and poetry began to emphasize on the importance of adhering to classical norms and forms.

Continuing with Eighteenth-century literature, this course offers an array of texts across genres. The eighteenth-century was an age in which new modes of creative expression were coming to the fore, particular prose narratives of the likes of Swift and Sterne, among others. Irony and satire became important tools to depict society’s ills. The age was also characterised by importance given to gender issues. Congreve’s play bears enough testimony to this fact. Since, this period is also referred to as the Age of Enlightenment; “reason‟ became the locus from which human’s actions and cognition issued forth. Therefore, a fundamental philosophical shift ushered in, in the wake of the culture of positivism that set in during this period.

After the completion of this course, learners will be in a position to understand the spirit of the age, as well as the literature embodying this spirit.

Credits: 05 credits per elective+ 04 credits per tutorial= 24 credits

This course aims to prepare students for work in high level English courses in which research writing is a requirement. It introduces basic research writing skills including: conducting research, note taking, paraphrase, summary, direct quotation, positioning, and MLA or APA style citation. The course will place equal or greater emphasis on macro-level composition skills such as: essay structure, paragraph structure, coherence, unity; and micro-level skills such as: sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and mechanics. Students will learn how to read carefully, write effective arguments, understand the writing process, engage with others' ideas, cite accurately, and craft powerful prose.

By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate and apply knowledge of basic essay structure, including introduction, body and conclusion; employ the various stages of the writing process, including pre-writing, writing and re-writing; employ descriptive, narrative and expository modes; demonstrate ability to write for an academic audience; write concise sentences, etc.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theory, fundamentals and tools of communication and to develop in them vital communication skills which should be integral to personal, social and professional interactions. One of the critical links among human beings and an important thread that binds society together is the ability to share thoughts, emotions and ideas through various means of communication: both verbal and non-verbal. In the context of rapid globalization and increasing recognition of social and cultural pluralities, the significance of clear and effective communication has substantially enhanced. The present course hopes to address some of these aspects through an interactive mode of teaching-learning process and by focusing on various dimensions of communication skills. Some of these are: Language of communication, various speaking skills such as personal communication, social interactions and communication in professional situations such as interviews, group discussions and office environments, important reading skills as well as writing skills such as report writing, note-taking etc. While, to an extent, the art of communication is natural to all living beings, in today’s world of complexities, it has also acquired some elements of science.

It is hoped that after studying this course, students will find a difference in their personal and professional interactions. The recommended readings given at the end are only suggestive; the students and teachers have the freedom to consult other materials on various units/topics given below. Similarly, the questions in the examination will be aimed towards assessing the skills learnt by the students rather than the textual content of the recommended books.

This course is offered in lieu of MIL, for learners who do not have the required competence to take up any of the modern Indian languages that are part of the undergraduate curriculum. The objective of this course is to acquaint learners with some of the most representative Prose Pieces and Short Stories in the western literary and cultural canon. However, the course also accommodates texts that are significant in Indian writing in English. The rationale for including this course as part of AECC courses is to impart learners with the idea of the best that has been written (or translated) in the East as well as the West.

After completing this course, learners will be in a position to understand and appreciate the value of the two sub-genres, prose and short stories. The former is non-fictional, and the latter is fictional in mode. They will be able to understand cultural practices of two different spatiality-the West and the East. It will broaden their perspective to accommodate disparate ideologies that operate in different spaces on account of cultural differences.

Course Description: This course is offered in lieu of MIL, for learners who do not have the required competence to take up any of the modern Indian languages that are part of the undergraduate curriculum. The objective of this course is to acquaint learners with some of the most representative Prose Pieces and Short Stories in the western literary and cultural canon. However, the course also accommodates texts that are significant in Indian writing in English. The rationale for including this course as part of AECC courses is to impart learners with the idea of the best that has been written (or translated) in the East as well as the West.

The learners will get acquainted with social issues, including the politics of how these are constructed, reinforced and sustained.

Course Description: The objective of this course is to introduce learners to the most outstanding works produced in Modern Indian literature (from Premchand to Mahasweta Devi). Contemporary concerns find ample space texts ranging from short stories to poems.

Course Description: This course has been devised with the intention of making the learners understand and appreciate the best of British literature from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century.

Course Description: The objective of this course is to read literary texts across culture and space.

The course enhances the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. It encourages recognition and awareness of different genres like the short story, poetry, feature articles, etc. Topical and social themes form an integral part of the course The course teaches the students speaking and listening skills in class and tests these skills for a constant monitoring of their proficiency. The course broadens the horizons of the text by project work which is flexible, and enhances the creativity of the student. The course uses activities centred on translation for students, and gives them a composite view of multiculturalism. By the end of the two-semester course the learner should have sufficient vocabulary to read and understand narratives, write coherently, summarise and understand tape scripts/read-aloud, speak fluently and narrate at length with minimal errors in syntax.

1. Diary entry
2. Paragraph writing
3. Summary/Note making
4. Formal and informal letter writing
5. CV/ Resume writing
6. Book/ Film reviews

Internal assessment (20 marks)

• Speaking skills, Listening/ Comprehension
• Project work

Suggested projects

Sports writing, Poetry about women/ men, Poetry in translation, Telling a story, Fantasy writing, Chat shows, The menace of dowry, A success story etc.

1. Interview
2. Feature article
3. Questionnaire/Survey
4. Essay/Speech writing
5. Report writing
6. Dialogue writing

Internal assessment (20 marks)

• Speaking skills, Listening/ Comprehension
• Project work

Suggested projects

Creative writing, Theatre Action Group (TAG)/ other theatre groups, Billy Elliot, Translating a poem, Arranged marriages, Interviewing a celebrity, Writing a newspaper article on a current topic, Today’s youth and youth icons, Leadership and politics, Examination system and benefits of reform, The Mahabharata, Communalism, Gender discrimination, Social activism