Novel and Politics

(Keywords: Short Fiction, Novel, Politics, Sexual Violence, Representation of Violence in

Art, Realism, Genre Studies, Agency, Caste, Social Ideologies and Narrative)

COURSE INSTRUCTORS:

Dr. Nandini Dhar

COURSE CREDITS:

4 Credits

COURSE LENGTH:

15 Weeks

Novel, as an aesthetic form, is particularly invested in exploring the intersection of individual human
lives within momentous historical events, and political processes. As a result, they provide us with
inroads into a much more complex vision of politics, than is available to us through news, political
rhetoric and debates. Often, political novels examine the complex worlds of the intersection of the
public and the private realms -- gender, caste, class -- and the ways in which the state as the ultimate
political institution intrudes into our everyday lives. Consequently, novels also allow us to think of the
questions of state repression and how such repression formulate individual political subjectivity.
In this class, we will read two novels. One of them happens to be a seminal novel of the twentieth
century, and another one written by a relatively younger and lesser known writer, written in twenty-
first century. The first one is written by an Indian author, the second by an Indian-American one.
Through these novels, we will see, how the two writers represent the issues described above. We
would also read a novella by a Tamil writer, written originally in Tamil, and then translated into
English. We will also begin the class with a film which is an adaptation from a contemporary
Pakistani novel, to demonstrate how novels often interact with other forms of art.

Required Texts:
God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)
South Haven (Hirsh Sawhney)
Black Horse Square (Ambai)
 COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES (AIM):

Course Intended Learning Teaching and Learning Assessments/ Activities

Outcomes
Familiarity with Key
Critical Concepts in Novel
Theory
Familiarity With the
Themes of the Two Novels
Application of Key
Concepts in Novel Theory
to the Two Novels
Activities
Close-Reading Assignment Response Papers
In-Class Discussions In-class writing
assignments, class
presentations
Ongoing Class Discussions, Final Paper, Midterm
Readings and In-Class Free
Writing Assignments, Class
Presentations

SCHEME of EVALUATION and GRADING:

EVALUATION BREAKUP

Attendance and Participation 10%

Midterm Project 40%
Final Paper 40%
Short Response Paper (s) 10%

GRADE TABLE:

O (80% and Above) [8.0] Outstanding Exceptional knowledge of the subject matter,
thorough understanding of issues; ability to
synthesize ideas, rules and principles and
extraordinary critical and analytical ability
A+ (75%-79%) [7.5] Excellent Sound knowledge of the subject matter,
thorough understanding of issues; ability to
synthesize ideas, rules and principles and
critical and analytical ability
A (70%-74%) [7.0] Very Good Sound knowledge of the subject matter,

A-     (65%-69%) [6.0]
B+ (60%-64%) [5.0]
B (55%-59%) [4.0]
B- (50%-54%) [3.0]
F (50% or Below)
excellent organizational capacity, ability to
synthesize ideas, rules and principles, critically
analyse existing materials and originality in
thinking and presentation
Good Good understanding of the subject matter,
ability to identify issues and provide balanced
solutions to problems and good critical and
analytical skills
Fair Average understanding of the subject matter,
limited ability to identify issues and provide
solutions to problems and reasonable critical
and analytical skills. Average understanding of
the subject matter, limited ability to identify
issues and provide solutions to problems and
reasonable critical and analytical skills
Acceptable Adequate knowledge of the subject matter to go
to the next level of study and reasonable critical
and analytical skills
Marginal Limited knowledge of the subject matter and
irrelevant use of materials and, poor critical and
analytical skills
Fail Poor comprehension of the subject matter; poor
critical and analytical skills and marginal use of
the relevant materials. Will require repeating the
course

ASSESSMENTS

Class Participation and Attendance: In order to receive credit for the participation
requirement for this class, you will need to be an active and attentive member of the class
community. I expect you to participate fully in the class activities, to be ready with thoughtful
answers when called upon, and to offer your informed opinions during our class discussions.
This means, I expect you to log on to the class having done your readings. I also expect you
to be vocal inside the classroom space and participate fully in all group activities. At the same
time, points will be deducted if you keep on talking for talking’s sake. While I respect all
opinions, so long as they are accompanied by clear evidence and reasons, I will not entertain
uninformed bias. Also, this class will have zero tolerance towards racist, classist, casteist,
sexist, homophobic and Islamophobic commentary.

Response Paper: Short reading responses based on class discu.

Midterm Project: This will be a 4-6 page paper where you take up a specific theme in the
novella Black Horse Square and the film Noor, and explore that issue through close-readings
of specific passages/scenes from the text.
Final Paper: For this assignment, you are required to write a 6-8 page paper. Your paper
should have a clear sense of argument, using close-readings from the texts covered, as
evidence. The specific assignment will be handed out in class later during the term.

PLAGIARISM:
In line with JGU policy, JSLH operates a zero tolerance approach to plagiarism. The
unacknowledged use of material by others within your work is a violation of academic
integrity, and all reported cases will be investigated before potential disciplinary action.
Instructors will address methods of citation and presentation within written work.
DISABILITY SUPPORT and ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS:
JGU endeavors to make all its courses accessible to students.  All students with a known
disability needing academic accommodations are required to register with the Disability
Support Committee dsc@jgu.edu.in.  The Committee has so far identified the following
conditions that could possibly hinder student’s overall well-being. These include: physical
and mobility related difficulties; visual impairment; hearing impairment; medical conditions;
specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia; mental health.

The Disability Support Committee maintains strict confidentiality in its discussions.

PARTICIPATION and ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Late Work: No late assignments, exams or quiz make-ups will be accepted, unless there is a
documented medical emergency (e.g. ER or accident). I reserve the right to request
appropriate documentation and determine eligibility for make-ups. All decisions are final.
Regular reading is assumed: Students who do not do their readings will have difficulty with
the requirements and students who do not attend class will have difficulty with their readings.
I strongly recommend that students do the readings several times – at least once before the
class in which they will be discussed and once after the class.
Class Session
Week One (February 1)
Introductions
Week Two (February 8)
Noor (film)
(Submit response papers of 200-300 words about the film) – Deadline 11.01.2023 midnight
Week Three (February 15)
Discussion on the film
Week Four (February 22)
Black Horse Square (novella)
Week Five (March 1)
Concluding discussions on Black Horse Square
Week Six (March 8)

Holi Break
Week Seven (March 15)
Begin God of Small Things
(Submit Mid-Term Essay Assignment)
Week 8 (March 22)
God of Small Things
Week 9 (March 29)
God of Small Things
Week 10 (April 5)
God of Small Things
Week 11 (April 12)
Conclude God of Small Things
Begin South Haven
Week 12 (April 19)
South Haven
Week 13 (April 26)
South Haven
Week 14 (May 3)
South Haven
Week 15 (May 10)
Concluding Session/Revision