World Literatures
There is indeed a lot of literature in the world, and there is no question of covering it all. Instead our World Literature courses focus on providing students with the tools necessary to negotiate the global literary landscape and their own position in it: openness, wonder, critical thinking, self-reflexivity, and an awareness of the centrality of translation to all human interaction, whether literary or otherwise.
World Literature courses are offered in English translation, cover a variety of themes and topics, and always feature a rich cross cultural selection of literary works. The resulting learning environment is compelling: you may find yourself identifying with characters widely separated from you in time, space and idiom; or wondering why so many writers from different parts of the world have turned to literature as a form of political expression; or noticed that it is often authors exiled from their own countries who become the most influential. And that is just the beginning. Scroll down on this page for course descriptions.
Spring 2025 World Literature Courses
Course | Title | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
WL 100 D100 | What is World Literature? |
Joel Akinwumi
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 101W D100 | Writing in World Literature |
Kenneth Seigneurie
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 103W D100 | Early World Literatures |
Gianluca Oluic
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 104W D100 | Modern World Literatures |
Maria Barraza
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 204 D100 | Rights and Activism in Literature |
Gianluca Oluic
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 304 D100 | Exile and Migration |
Maria Barraza
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 308 D100 | Travel and Trade |
Maral Aguilera-Moradipour
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 340 D100 | Directed Studies |
Maria Barraza
|
TBA
|
Location: TBA
|
WL 404W D100 | Literature and Translation |
Kenneth Seigneurie
|
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
Summer 2025 World Literature Courses
Course | Title | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
WL 103W D100 | Early World Literatures |
Azadeh Yamini-Hamedani
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 320 D100 | Interdisciplinary Approaches to World Literature (Narrative Medicine) |
Azadeh Yamini-Hamedani
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
WL 360 D100 | National Literature as World Literature |
Vlad Vintila
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|