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HarvardX: Modern Masterpieces of World Literature

4.9 stars
13 ratings

Examine how great modern writers capture the intricacies of our globalized world and how their works circulate within that world to find their own audiences.

Modern Masterpieces of World Literature
8 weeks
3–6 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

82,540 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 28

About this course

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Based on the second half of the Masterpieces of World Literature edX MOOC, this short literature course examines how writers reach beyond national and linguistic boundaries as worldly readers and travelers, and how their modern fictions rise to the status of world literature.

These masterpieces of modern world literature take part in a tradition of weaving small stories into ambitious projects—one that reaches back to medieval tales and extends forward to contemporary novels. Throughout the course, you will learn how these writers use their fictions to engage directly with the political and social concerns of their present and of a globalized modernity, relating experiences of exploration, migration, international conflict, and cultural exchange.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English

What you'll learn

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  • The recent history of World Literature
  • How literary works are transformed by cultural transmission
  • How to critically analyze literary works
  • Historical and political context in China, Argentina, Turkey, and more

Section 1: Introduction: What is World Literature? (Goethe)
Section 2: West-Eastern Conversations ( The 1001 Nights )
Section 3: Enlightenment in the Colonies (Candide)
Section 4: China and Its Neighbors (Lu Xun and Eileen Chang)
Section 5: Inventing Latin America (Jorge Luis Borges, Ficciones )
Section 6: From Empire to Globe (Wole Soyinka, Death and the King's Horseman )
Section 7: East-West Encounters (Salman Rushdie, East, West ; Jhumpa Lahiri, The Interpreter of Maladies )
Section 8: Istanbul in – or as – the World (Orhan Pamuk, My Name Is Red )

Frequently Asked Questions

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Honor Code
HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code, which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs.

Nondiscrimination/Anti-Harassment
Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact harvardx@harvard.edu and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

Research Statement
HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.

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