This Section details the different courses undertaken, over a period of four Semesters to complete the Master of Arts – English : Postgraduate Program.
The courses are of the following varieties, Core papers that are mandatory, Electives that can be chosen from list of available electives and Laboratory practicals if applicable. The courses when successfully completed, collectively contribute towards the minimum requirement of awarding a Master’s degree.
As part of the Madras University’s OBE – Outcome Based Education program, the desired outcome is presented along with each course.
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Semester I
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● recollect the origin and development of poetry from age of Chaucer to 17th century with the help of prescribed texts
● understand various literary terms, forms, movements, and types of poetry using prescribed texts
● analyse prescribed poems and bring out the features and themes that are specific to the movement or age
● evaluate the prescribed poems using various literary techniques
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● trace the origin and development of English Drama
● describe Elizabethan England in social and historical context and gain a deeper insight into the theatrical conventions of Elizabethan Drama
● analyse predominant literary movements and genres of Elizabethan and Jacobean Age
● assess the literary and stylistic features of the prescribed plays
● evaluate prescribed texts in terms of plot, characterisation, themes, and dramatic techniques
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● describe the origin and development of novel and its sub-genres
● analyse the social and historical contexts of prescribed novels
● compare and contrast plots, themes, characters, and point of view in prescribed novels
● examine ways in which novelists perceive their contemporary world
● collaborate with peer group for role play, presentation, and seminar
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand the evolution of Indian Writing in English
● identify the influence of Classical Indian tradition and the impact of western colonisation on Indian English writers
● analyse Indian ethos found in the representative texts
● evaluate Indian English texts and regional language texts translated into English, from the postcolonial perspective
● synthesise arguments on Indian literary texts, contextualising them within contemporary socio-political situations
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● recollect characteristic features of Ancient Indian Theatre and Classical Greek Theatre
● understand socio, economic, and cultural factors reflected in world classics
● understand translation basics like Source Language (SL), Target Language (TL), inter-lingual, intra-lingual, and inter-semiotic translations
● analyse the prescribed classics in the light of ‘religion’ and ‘philosophy’
● evaluate Existentialism, Realism, Naturalism, Marxism, and Feminism using the prescribed texts
● synthesise (print and web) resources and write critical essays on the prescribed classics in translation
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● develop basic communication skills – Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing
● remember basic concepts of Business Writing
● write effective resume for the workplace
Semester II
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● trace the origin and development of American Literature
● describe the social, historical, and political background of American Literature
● analyse various movements like flowering of New England, American Renaissance, and Harlem Renaissance
● evaluate the distinctiveness of Transcendentalism, Individualism, Counter-Culture, and Rise of Black Culture and Literature
● appreciate prescribed texts in terms of styles, themes, and techniques
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● recall various literary events, authors, texts, and movements related
to poetry, from Augustan Age to Victorian Age
● analyse the poetry of Pre-Raphaelites, Augustans, Transitionists,
Romantics, and Victorians
● appreciate the thematic structure and figurative language of
prescribed poems
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● trace the development of English Drama from Restoration to 20th century
● assess the historical contexts, psycho-social aspects, cultural and moral values inherent in prescribed plays
● appreciate the literary and stylistic techniques of playwrights like John Dryden, William Congreve, J. M. Synge, Bertolt Brecht, Harold Pinter, and Samuel Beckett
● analyse prescribed plays critically in terms of form, structure, themes, and dramatic techniques
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● recollect the significance of Colonial Expansion, French Revolution, and Industrial Revolution
● understand the cultural, social, and political backdrops that contributed to diversity in fiction writing during Victorian and Modern periods
● apply class and gender issues and evaluate prescribed texts
● analyse the narrative techniques, characterisation, and space-time connections in fiction
● evaluate modern man’s quest as portrayed in prescribed novels
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● remember basic concepts of effective business writing
● write effective resumes
● edit Newsletters and Press Releases
● develop effective oral communication
● compose articles for website
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand posture, gesture, facial expressions, and tone of speech
● develop effective oral communication
● improve their body language
● make interesting presentations and do seminar
Semester III
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand Elizabethan theatre and the evolution of Shakespeare Studies from Elizabethan age till twentieth century
● assess the historical and socio-political perspectives in prescribed texts
● analyse Shakespearean texts using theoretical frameworks
● evaluate the evolving perspectives down the ages and relate them to contemporary era
● create their own arguments and re-evaluate them using fresh perspectives pertinent to present time
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand the basics of Phonetics and Phonology
● trace the evolution of language and evaluate the role of language in constructing and reflecting social identities
● apply principles of first and second language acquisition in understanding the theories and methods in English Language Teaching
● assess lesson plans, course syllabi, and teaching materials
● design language learning materials and assessments using e-learning tools
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand western critical tradition from Classical Criticism to Postcolonial theories
● analyse aesthetic concepts and critical traditions of Classical and Romantic age
● evaluate humanistic, structuralist, and post-structuralist approaches to literature
● synthesise information and write research articles using theoretical or critical frameworks
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand how historical backgrounds shape women’s lives in various geographical settings
● recognise and discuss the crucial aspects of women’s writing
● analyse the social, political, cultural and intellectual concerns related to women’s writing
● analyse and interpret literary works by women in contemporary era
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● identify different phases in the development of Film Studies
● trace the evolution of Indian film industry
● understand the basics of film-making
● analyse various genres of films
● evaluate films from different socio-cultural dimensions
● write film reviews using different techniques
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand different communication theories and models
● apply the theories to enhance their listening and speaking skills
● examine modern media tools and modes of official business correspondence
● utilise media tools to draft business letters, emails, and memorandum
● collaborate with each other for effective workplace and professional communication
As a part of the curriculum, students undergo Internship training for a period of four weeks in the month of May in any reputed organisation.
By the end of Internship, students will be able to
● understand the responsibilities of a reporter or journalist
● evaluate publishing or e-publishing standards
● recollect the basics of proofreading and editing
● assess specs and manual, and write a project report
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand the mechanism of stress
● recollect the basic concepts of body language
● realise the significance of time management
● analyse the techniques used in resolution of conflict
Semester IV
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● trace the development of twentieth century British poetry
● analyse the features of Edwardian and Georgian Poetry, Modernism, Imagism, Symbolism, Movement poetry, and Postmodern poetry
● evaluate the influence of Representational Arts, Marxism, World Wars I & II, Welfare State, and Free Verse on twentieth century poetry
● appreciate prescribed poems in terms of styles, themes, movements, and techniques
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● outline the development of history of English literature
● analyse the characteristic features of literary ages
● understand the social, historical, and political background of writers
● assess literary works in terms of genres, styles, themes, and techniques along with rhetoric and prosody
● evaluate their knowledge of literature and prepare for NET/SET or other competitive exams
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● identify various types of translation
● understand basic translation techniques
● apply basic skills acquired in doing translation practically
● analyse quality of translation using different translations of the same source text
● evaluate translated works at linguistic level
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● understand the basics of book review
● assess the advertisements in newspaper, TV, and Internet
● analyse various aspects of publishing industry
● evaluate specs and manuals, and write technical reports
● edit and proofread paragraphs using copy-editing symbols and epublishing tools
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● identify a research topic and formulate a hypothesis
● understand theoretical or conceptual framework for the research
● interpret or evaluate literary texts
● analyse primary and secondary sources using the chosen framework
● use quotations, give citations, and document sources in Works Cited using MLA guidelines
● write a thesis following research methodology
By the end of the course, students will be able to
● remember words and phrases from German language
● understand how to frame sentences or questions
● develop basic conversation in German language