Skip to main content
NounStudy
Back to Course Catalog
ENG419Arts2 Unitsintermediate

African Literature and Gender

This course explores African literature through a gendered lens. It examines the cultural contexts shaping African narratives, including drama, poetry, and fiction. The course delves into feminist theories, exploring their relevance to the African experience and the portrayal of women in literature. Students will critically analyze gender dynamics, cultural values, and historical influences within African literary works, gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities of gender and identity in the African context.

Generate AI Study Notes

Transform this course into personalized study materials with AI

40h
Study Time
13
Weeks
3h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
African LiteratureGender StudiesFeminismCultureLiterary Theory

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

African Literature

2

Gender Studies

3

Feminist Theories

4

Cultural Contexts

5

Literary Criticism

6

Women in Literature

7

Patriarchy

8

Social Justice

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Literary Critic

Apply your skills in this growing field

Gender Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Cultural Affairs Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Editor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Content Writer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

PublishingEducationJournalismCultural OrganizationsNon-profit Sector

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: African Literature and Culture

3h

Unit 1: African Literature and Its Phases

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: African Literature and Its Phases, focusing on the definition and origin of African Literature.
  • •Identify the characteristics of African Literature and its different phases.
  • •Compare the phases of African Literature and outline the main concerns of pioneer African poets.
Week
2

Module 1: African Literature and Culture

3h

Unit 2: Phases of African Poetry in English (I)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: Phases of African Poetry in English (I), differentiating the phases of African poetry.
  • •Review the pioneer phase of African poetry and discuss its themes.
  • •Explain the roles of pioneer African poets in the political independence of African nations.
Week
3

Module 1: African Literature and Culture

3h

Unit 3: Phases of African Poetry in English (II)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 3: Phases of African Poetry in English (II), focusing on the transitional phase of African poetry in English.
  • •Identify the themes of the poetry of this phase.
  • •Analyze the issues raised in Gabriel Okara's 'The Call of the River Nun'.
Week
4

Module 1: African Literature and Culture

3h

Unit 4: Phases of African Poetry in English (III)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 4: Phases of African Poetry in English (III), discussing the modernist and contemporary phases of African poetry in English.
  • •Differentiate between the modernist and contemporary phases of African poetry in English.
  • •Identify the philosophy of the contemporary poet in English.
Week
5

Module 2: Black Voices as African Literature

3h

Unit 1: African Fiction in English (I)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 1: African Fiction in English (I), discussing the beginning of the African novel in English, with regional peculiarities.
  • •Identify the pioneers in West African fiction.
  • •Outline and differentiate the focus and themes of the pioneers of West African prose fiction.
Week
6

Module 2: Black Voices as African Literature

3h

Unit 2: African Fiction in English (II)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: African Fiction in English (II), identifying some East and Central African novelists.
  • •Discuss the plot of any of the East and Central African novels.
  • •Outline the notable South African novelists and explain the themes in some of these novels.
Week
7

Module 2: Black Voices as African Literature

3h

Unit 3: African Literature in Portuguese

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 3: African Literature in Portuguese, tracing the development of Portuguese literature.
  • •Explain the poetry of Portuguese-speaking Africans.
  • •Discuss themes of selected works of writers of Portuguese expression and identify major writers of the contemporary Portuguese.
Week
8

Module 2: Black Voices as African Literature

3h

Unit 4: African Drama in French and English

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 4: African Drama in French and English, discussing the development of African drama.
  • •Explain the focus of any playwright of your choice in a chosen play.
  • •Identify some African playwrights discussed in this unit and compare the plays of contemporary playwrights discussed in this unit.
Week
9

Module 3: History and Feminism

3h

Unit 1: Historical Overview of Feminism

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 1: Historical Overview of Feminism, tracing the history of feminism from a general perspective.
  • •Discuss the main concern(s) of the first wave of feminism.
  • •Identify the features that make up the second wave of feminism.
Week
10

Module 3: History and Feminism

3h

Unit 2: Feminist Expressions

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: Feminist Expressions, identifying the different categories of feminism.
  • •Explain the specific types there are in the categories of feminism.
  • •Discuss the major stance of feminism generally.
Week
11

Module 3: History and Feminism

3h

Unit 3: Feminism and the African Experience (I)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 3: Feminism and the African Experience (I), discussing how Africans adopted feminism to their own experience.
  • •Explain the social institution of patriarchy and women's disempowerment.
  • •Make a comparison the plight of Nigerian women with those other women from Africa.
Week
12

Module 3: History and Feminism

3h

Unit 4: Feminism and the African Experience (II)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 4: Feminism and the African Experience (II), becoming familiar with the other types of African feminism that are not so popular.
  • •Identify the major differences among the three types.
  • •Discuss the particular experiences that gave rise to the creation of the types of African feminism.
Week
13

Module 4: Women, Gender, and the Feminist Question

6h

Unit 1: Women at the Centre in Selected African Fiction

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 1: Women at the Centre in Selected African Fiction, identifying the various patriarchal challenges women experience in their respective environments.
  • •Explore the general belief that women do not like one another.
  • •Discuss the various coping/survival mechanisms put up by women.

Unit 2: Major Western Feminist Views (I)

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: Major Western Feminist Views (I), discussing feminism from a Western perspective.
  • •Become knowledgeable in the different strands of Western feminism there are.
  • •Identify the central tenets of the feminist theories of Elaine Showalter, Helene Cixous, and Josephine Donovan.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

Access PDF Material

Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all module introductions and summaries to reinforce key concepts.

2

Create comparative charts of different feminist theories (Western vs. African).

3

Analyze character portrayals in selected African fiction, focusing on gender dynamics.

4

Practice essay writing, addressing potential exam questions on course themes.

5

Form study groups to discuss complex concepts and share insights.

6

Pay close attention to the historical and cultural contexts of literary works.

Related Courses

Other courses in Arts that complement your learning

ARA439

Arabic-English-Arabic Translation

3 Units
PHL415

Philosophy of History

2 Units
ENG434

Literary Stylistics

3 Units
View All Arts Courses