Introduction to Literary Interpretation

The course is highly practical, so the presentation of different theoretical views on interpretation to the participants is intended as an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a certain interpretation model and an initiative to create one’s own interpretation framework.

There are no enrolment or degree requirements for the course.

The course is designed in a very practical way, where different hermeneutical models serve as starting points for practical work with texts.
1. Theoretical introduction to interpretation and different interpretive models
2. Analysis of different examples of interpretation
3. The stages of a general interpretative model, its suitability for different texts and the development of one's own interpretative model which includes:
- Understanding the text,
- placing the text in a wider context,
- Text and literary genres (literary type, general characteristics of the genre),
- content analysis (theme, motifs, structure of the text),
- author and text (type of narrator),
- form (characteristics of literary language, versological analysis, formal features of the text),
- the communicative elements of the text,
- opinion and conclusion.

Knowledge and understanding:
- Students learn about different types of interpretation, which they are able to define and critically evaluate by using them on different literary texts,
- develop their own interpretative model which contributes to a deeper understanding of the text,
- are able to analyse and interpret different literary texts in depth.

Skills:
- Ability to apply theoretical background and own interpretive model in practice.

Basic:

• Course notes (commented anthology of interpretations prepared by the lecturer)

Additional:

• Hladnik, M. (2003) Praktični spisovnik ali Šola strokovnega ubesedovanja [Elektronski vir] : vademekum za študente slovenske književnosti, zlasti za predmet Uvod v študij slovenske književnosti. Catalogue E-gradivo
• Dolinar, D. (1991). Hermenevtika in literarna veda. Ljubljana: DZS. Catalogue
• Kmecl, M. (1983). Mala literarna teorija. Ljubljana: Univerzum. Catalogue
• Virk, T. (2003). Moderne metode literarne vede in njihove filozofsko teoretske osnove : metodologija 1. Ljubljana: FF. Catalogue
• Barbara Pregelj: Poti do literarne interpretacije : skica ob Francoskem Testamentu Andreïa Makina. Jez. slovst. (Tisk. izd.). [Tiskana izd.], 2010, letn. 55, št. 1/2, str. 11-22. E-version

Written exam.
(The prerequisites for taking the exam are active participation in lectures and tutorials, and the production of a seminar paper and portfolio.)

Barbara Pregelj is an adjunct professor of literature at the University of Nova Gorica. She mainly researches various aspects of the reception of Spanish literature in Slovene literature, translation issues, youth literature and literary interpretation, and has designed and led a number of international and domestic projects in the field of motivation to read.
She regularly actively participates in congresses, symposia, round tables, lectures at home and abroad, and has also organized several visits by foreign authors to Slovenia and literary symposia. She also works as a translator and editor.

• PREGELJ, Barbara. Žanri med središči in obrobji. Literatura (Ljublj.), jan.-feb. 2013, letn. 25, št. 259/260, str. 100-111.
• PREGELJ, Barbara. Sodobna pravljica v kontekstu sodobne baskovske mladinske književnosti. Otrok knj., 2012, letn. 39, št. 83, str. 34-45.
• PREGELJ, Barbara, GERŠAK, Urša. Más allá de la clase : literatura como una posibilidad de conocer al otro (y a uno mismo). V: FISCHER, Ferenc (ur.), LILÓN, Domingo (ur.). EncUEntros : viejos y nuevos encUEntros entre Hungría, Europa e Iberoamérica : ponencias presentadas en la Conferencia Internacional que tuvo lugar en Pécs, 3 de mayo de 2011, (Iberoamericana Quinqueecclesiensis, 10 (2012)). Pécs: Universidad de Pécs, Centro Iberoamericano, 2012, str. 61-68.
• PREGELJ, Barbara. Slikanica kot preplet besede in podobe : primer Lile Prap. V: KRANJC, Simona (ur.). Meddisciplinarnost v slovenistiki, (Obdobja, Simpozij, = Symposium, 30). 1. natis. Ljubljana: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, 2011, str. 391-396. http://www.centerslo.net/files/file/simpozij/simp30/Zbornik/Pregelj.pdf.
• PREGELJ, Barbara. Zgledno omledno : trivialno v slovenski postmoderni književnosti, (Slavistična knjižnica, 12). Ljubljana: Slavistično društvo Slovenije, 2007. 209 str. ISBN 978-961-6715-00-3.