106-033 Writing After Empire

Formerly available as 106-241/341. Students who have completed 106-241 or 106-341 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first-year English, see Prerequisites.

In this subject students examine examples of contemporary fiction by writers from societies which were formerly part of the British Empire. The aim is to introduce students to the main problems, themes and issues which have preoccupied these writers in an era of decolonisation nationalist uprising, and mass migration. In addition, students will learn how postcolonial writers have made use of narrative strategies, such as realism, irony, allegory and magic realism, to comment on the social and political regimes that have followed in the wake of empire. On successful completion of the subject, students will have a knowledge of the main characteristics of postcolonial fiction, and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the more important theoretical concepts and debates engaging postcolonial critics today.