MA Programme

French Studies | German Studies | Hispanic Studies | Italian Studies

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

All MA Programmes have been designed with a common structure and an interdisciplinary approach based on the following understanding:

  1. All the programmes involve the study of culture in general and literature in particular and therefore have certain common theoretical and methodological concerns.
  2. All programmes have a certain, though not exclusive, focus on Europe.
  3. They are designed to stimulate thinking and lay the foundations for undertaking independent research work.

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION FOR MA PROGRAMME

First Year

Semester I-1

Courses

Marks

Paper 101

Study of a Genre/Shorter Narrative Forms

100

Paper 102

Themes and Strategies in Literature [1] »

100

Paper 103

Cultural History [1]

100

Paper 104

Translation: Theory and Practice [1]

100

Semester I-2

Paper 201

Study of a Genre/Novel

100

Paper 202

Themes and Strategies in Literature [2] » / Optional

100

Paper 203

Cultural History [2]

100

Paper 204

Interdisciplinary Course

100

Second Year

Semester II-1

Courses

Marks

Paper 301

Study of a Genre/Theatre

100

Paper 302

Optional

100

Paper 303

Translation: Theory and Practice [2]

100

Paper 304

Perspectives in Theory & Criticism

100

Semester II-2

Paper 401

Study of a Genre/Poetry

100

Paper 402

Optional

100

Paper 403

Interdisciplinary Course

100

Paper 404

Dissertation

100

*The Interdisciplinary courses will be offered by the Departments in the Faculty of Arts

Eligibility Conditions for admission to M.A. in French/German/Hispanic/Italian Studies

Category-A

The applicants who have done B.A.(Hons) in French/German/Spanish/Italian language from University of Delhi shall be eligible to apply for admission directly if they have obtained 60% marks and above in aggregate.

Category-B

For all others the eligibility for applying for admission shall be 40% in aggregate in the Bachelors Degree + Advanced Diploma in the language concerned or B1 level of Common European Framework or any other equivalent qualification considered equivalent thereto.

Candidates in this category have to qualify in the Entrance/Written Test +VIVA-VOCE Examination.

Note: Applicants of Category A can apply for the Entrance Exam. also If they do not find place through direct admission they will be considered in the Category B merit list.


Admission Procedure

23 seats are available in each language (50% for Category A and 50% for Category B).

Online forms are available on the site of DU. Last date for filling the forms is 30 April 2015.

All eligible candidates have the right to take an Entrance Test (Written) in the concerned language. The written test will be held on 19 June 2015 at 2:30 p.m. in the Department of GRS, Faculty of Arts (NDC).


Mode of Evaluation

Each paper is of 100 marks: 30 marks for internal assessment and 70 marks for the End-Semester Examination (3 hours duration).

Internal assessment is based on continuous evaluation (through class tests, presentations, written assignments, seminars).

Use of dictionaries during the examinations is allowed in Papers 104 & 303.

Written assignments for internal assessment should be submitted well within the stipulated time schedule indicated by the teachers concerned

Paper 404 is to be marked on 100 jointly by the Supervisor and Co-Examiner.

The date for final submission of the dissertation will be notified later.


INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES

The Department of Germanic and Romance Studies will conduct two Interdisciplinary Courses for M.A. Part 1 and 2 students in Semester 2 and 4 in the Faculty of Arts.

The courses aim to provide insights into issues and concerns of relevance for Europe and the Postcolonial world through readings in English translation of works originally written in French, German, Italian and Spanish.

The course is conceived with the understanding that an interface with the outside world will help create greater awareness among students and encourage them to develop an intercultural perspective.

Eligibility: All students registered in MA 1 and 2.
Note: The course will be conducted only if there is a minimum of 10 students.

Evaluation: Each paper carries 100 marks, i.e. 30 marks for internal assessment and 70 marks for the end semester examination. Internal assessment will comprise of a minimum of one written assignment, presentation or class test.

The courses offered by the Department are:

European literature and Society
The course will deal with English translations of a range of literary works originally written in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Students will discover a series of well-known writers from the medieval till contemporary period.

The course will involve the study of a selection of four texts - one from each language - drawn from the reading list provided below, and will focus on a relevant theme or issue. The couse thus aims to read these works from the perspective of their historical and social moorings and their literary innovations.

Readings into Colonial/Postcolonial Encounters

The course will deal with English translations of literary works from Latin America, Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and Europe originally written in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Students will discover a series of responses to colonial/postcolonial encounters from the 16th century till the contemporary context of immigration and Diaspora.

The course will involve the study of a selection of four texts - one from each language - drawn from the reading list provided below, and will focus on a relevant theme or issue. The course thus aims to read these works from the perspective of their historical and social moorings and their literary innovations.


Themes chosen so far for the theme courses in the MA Programme:

  • Themes and Strategies in the Encounter with the Other (1995-96)
  • Myth and Mythology (1996-97), Literature and Exile (1997-98)
  • Romanticism and Modernity (1998-99)
  • Fin-de-Siècle (1999-2000)
  • Literature and Anthropology (2000-2001)
  • Culture and Globalisation (2001-2002)
  • Literature and Industry (2002-2003)
  • Literature and War (2003-2004),
  • Autobiography (2004-2005)
  • Literature and Travel (2005-2006)
  • Diversity and Unity in Multicultural Societies (2006-2007)
  • Empire and Rebellion (2007-2008)
  • Narrative Spaces (2008-2009)
  • Popular Fiction (2009-2010)
  • Literature and history (2010-2011)
  • Literature and the City (2012-2013)
  • India in other Literature (2013-2014)
  • Crime and Literature (2014-2015)

An international conference is held each year focusing on a contemporary aspect of the theme.