AustLit
Texts
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y
Benang : From the Heart
Fremantle
:
Fremantle Press
,
1999
Z135862
1999
single work
novel
(taught in 31 units)
'Oceanic in its rhythms and understanding, brilliant in its use of language and image, moving in its largeness of spirit, compelling in its narrative scope and style, Benang is a novel of celebration and lament, of beginning and return, of obliteration and recovery, of silencing and of powerful utterance. Both tentative and daring, it speaks to the present and a possible future through stories, dreams, rhythms, songs, images and documents mobilised from the incompletely acknowledged and still dynamic past.' (Publisher's website)
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y
Monkey Grip
Melbourne
:
McPhee Gribble
,
1977
Z115661
1977
single work
novel
(taught in 12 units)
Set in inner suburban 1970s Melbourne, Monkey Grip describes the fluid relationships of a community of friends who are living and loving in new ways. Single parent Nora falls in love with Javo, a heroin addict, and together they try to make sense of their lives and the choices they have made.
Description
This subject is designed to help students conceive, research and begin the writing of a novel, and to articulate an understanding of contemporary novels. It will introduce students to theoretical and historical approaches to the understanding and practice of extended narrative or novel writing. Students will read a variety of narrative-based and theoretical texts with emphasis on contemporary works. The focus of this subject is on the production of the student's own extended work of fiction, the major assessment being on an extract, preferably the opening part of that work.
Assessment
2500 words of narrative fiction as part of a longer work (plus a 500 word introduction discussing the conception and development of the work. This will be mandatory but not marked as part of the assessment) 65% (workshopped in class and due at end of semester). An essay of 1500 words discussing the complete reading of at least one of the novels from the Reader and at least one text in the Reader 25% (due at end of semester). Participation (including leading a weekly discussion) 10%. This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in tutorials.
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