Everything I had to read in my first month as a literature student

Exploring the essential reading materials and requirements for literature students at university, including the types of texts and books deemed worthy of study.

The speaker is excited to talk about their studies at the University of Vienna, where they have been studying comparative literature or European studies for four weeks.

The speaker spends 2-3 hours daily reading literature for university, which is a significant amount of time. They are not accustomed to this level of reading and previously did not have the time for it.

Choosing the right reading material depends on the selected courses. The speaker is taking six courses, including three mandatory ones: introduction to literature, comparative literature, and literary research.

Overall experience the other ones I chose so um yeah let's get into it oh yeah and if you want to know about Just My overall experience of going back to University I've uploaded a video about that last week I'll link it somewhere up

The speaker prefers to print everything and organize it in a folder rather than reading on the laptop.

Introduction to comparative literature

Cervantes' 'Don Quixote' is the focus of an introductory course on comparative literature. The teacher emphasized the importance of reading at least 14 chapters, stating that it's essential for literature students.

The book 'Tiger Dan Classa' by Danela Tra She is a contemporary piece about a woman growing up in Germany and studying literature at University. It's around 200 pages long, and the discussions on privilege are enjoyable.

The book 'Address Unknown' by Katherine Kressmann Taylor is a short letter correspondence between two friends in the 1930s, one Jewish man in America and the other who becomes indoctrinated with Hitler's ideas in Germany. It shows how quickly his mentality changes towards his Jewish friend, leading to a major plot twist at the end.

The concept of intertextuality is explained using the metaphor of a palimpsest, which refers to a material used for writing where previous imprints are still visible when new text is written. This illustrates how every text is built on those that came before it, either through allusions, direct quotes, or influence. Examples include Virgil and James Joyce basing their texts on Homer's works.

The next course is called Provocative Spirit: The Classics of Literature and Their Controversies. It's about 20 pages long.

Plato's argument in the Republic about throwing out poets and writers from his ideal State because literature doesn't tell the truth and tempts the youth.

The video discusses the significance of Aristotle's Poetics, emphasizing its relevance in various courses and literary traditions. The Oxford World Classics Edition is recommended for its insightful introduction and references to Plato's Republic. It highlights how literature, especially in German-speaking parts of the world, is heavily influenced by Aristotle.

Freud admired literature, especially 'Oedipus Rex' and 'Hamlet,' as they depicted the father conflict. He believed that literature revealed suppressed aspects of society and confirmed his theories. Additionally, he discussed Dostoevsky's moral failure due to neurosis.

The struggle of talking about books you haven't read, especially in literature studies. The thin line between reading and not reading, and the idea that one can know a book better by skimming it than by having read it years ago.

Time and memory play a crucial role in modern literature, shaping the narrative structure and character development. Understanding their significance enhances the appreciation of literary works.

The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann delves into the concepts of time and memory, offering a philosophical perspective. The book's structure simulates our experience of time, creating a fascinating connection between the narrative structure and our perception of time.

The character of Mann in the book 'Joseph and His Brothers' is really cool.

Explored works by Hofmannsthal, Doderer, and Wagner. Analyzed the romantic idea of time standing still in poetry. Professor wrote articles on forgetting in literature and the Wheel of Time.

The story is about a naked saint who meditates and continuously hears the Wheel of Time in his ears, which drives him crazy. Surprisingly, music is the only thing that helps him escape from this torment.

The speaker discusses the Confessions by St. Augustine, focusing on its theme of time and God's actions before creation.

The video discusses reading excerpts from various works of Virginia Woolf, including 'Mrs. Dalloway,' 'The Waves,' 'To the Lighthouse,' and others. It highlights her unique approach to time in her writing, making it an insightful exploration of her work.

The course includes readings of Proust, Joyce, Faulkner, Borges, Nabokov and others. The speaker expresses excitement about upcoming lectures on PR and James Joyce's Ulysses.

The course 'Literature Research' focuses on writing scientific papers, conducting research, and using correct citations. It also covers addressing gender inclusivity.

Reading a manual for scientific works from the University platform is necessary, as it provides essential guidance for academic writing and research.

Introduction to literature is the one before last course in this series.

The concept of literature in the 19th century became more nationalized and aestheticized, narrowing its original meaning which included various forms of written culture. This shift focused on genres driven by imagination and artistic expression.

The book 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman broke the traditional comic genre, which was mostly for children and meant to be funny. Spiegelman introduced serious topics of war in a comic form, challenging the reader's expectations.

Literature is not limited to fairy tales, as Eagleton's work demonstrates. The introduction of 'What is Literature' by Eagleton provides valuable insights into the topic.

The discussion around literary canons and the inclusion/exclusion of women. Explores the impact of time, money, status on who had the means to write or read.

The course delves into the reflection of colonial past and postcolonial present in literature, focusing on the low countries (Netherlands and Belgium). It explores excerpts from novels that represent people's experiences during different stages of colonialization.

Die Teebarone - Haasse class and we had to prepare some questions so the first novel we had to

The article discusses different colonization models and their political and military strategies in Europe. Spain pursued dynastic power, while Portugal and the Netherlands aimed to protect their international trading positions.

The course on Great Britain and France as powerful national states is surprisingly enjoyable, despite not being the first choice. It has sparked a genuine interest in history for the first time.

De stille kracht - Couperus pretty pretty small I have to M so yeah anyways and we read another novel excerpt from The Hidden Forest by

Louis Couperus wrote another novel called 'Oeroeg'. I enjoy reading it in Dutch to improve my language skills.

The novel 'Bezonken Rood' by Jeroen Brouwers explores the impact of colonialism and war on personal identity.

The story of a parrot who lies to get attention and ends up losing the trust of others.

The article discusses the role of culture in imperialism and colonialism, emphasizing how it extends beyond military power to include representations and images. It also explores Indo Dutch identity formations through cultural memory.

The speaker is surprised by the amount of reading they completed in their first month, considering themselves a slow reader. They express hope that the audience enjoyed it and invite them to share thoughts on the books.