Islands in Literature
15 creditsWhat do texts like The Tempest, Robinson Crusoe and The Island of Dr. Moreau have in common? One thing that they share is their setting: an island. Islands have played a significant role in the history of Western literature, often acting as powerful symbols for the beliefs, anxieties and desires of people in Europe and beyond. This module examines islands as a literary motif in a series of canonical texts, but it also theorizes islands from the point of view of postcolonical and ecocritical cultural theory. Since islands have often been sites of colonial expansion and exploitation, they, and their representation in Western literature, have been symbolic sites of power and resistance between humans as well as between humans and nature. By studying a series of representations of islands ranging from Plato until today, this course rethinks the notion that islands in literature are simply islands. It moreover provides opportunity for re-definitions of the seemingly simple term "island" itself, since islands, far from being monolithic entities, have held different meanings to different societies and times.
Växjö – the student city with a living campus
Just south of Växjö’s city centre you will find Linnaeus University’s campus. In Växjö, many students choose to live on campus.
Here you will have five minutes’ walking distance to friends, restaurants, lecture rooms, gym, grocery store, the University Library, nature trails, and student pubs. If you live in another part of Växjö, you can quickly get to the university by bus or bicycle.
With its 90 000 inhabitants, Växjö is one of the fastest growing cities in Sweden. Here you will find the famous Småland entrepreneurship spirit and a lot of companies, for instance within the IT industry – perfect for when you are looking for an internship position or a job. Växjö is also a picturesque city where you are always close to forests and water.
Build your own degree
Did you know that you can combine single-subject courses to build your own degree? In this way, you can design your own degree based on your interests and the career you are aiming for. This does not apply to all courses so make sure to check with a study counsellor at the faculty. Learn more about how you can build your own degree and become unique on the labour market.