Anglo-American Culture (BBLAN 03000)
Fall 2008
Lecturer: Karáth Tamás
Anglo-American Cultures in a Historical Perspective (BBLAN
03000): Cultural Encounters with the Anglo-American World
Lecturer: Karáth Tamás (kartauzi@gmx.de)
Lectures: Sat. 10.45-11.30
Overall content and aims
The course title, and its implied theme, is evidently too broad to condense any of its
narrower aspects in a series of six lectures. It is, however, practical enough to offer you
a selection of “cultural chapters” which provide you with notions of Anglo-American
cultures (of various times and spaces). These chapters will attempt to complete your
literature-history curricula by adding angles that are not necessarily discussed when
focusing on the literary or cultural achievements of certain periods. The common
denominator for all topics chosen for this semester will be the outsider’s perspective:
how did (or do) outsiders in the Anglo-American world perceive the cultural and social
milieu that you are also studying through its literature and art. Although the topics of the
6 sessions follow chronological order (divided into a British and an American cycle),
they will not be framed in a strict temporal and spatial continuity. They rather represent
case studies of cultural encounters. The study of these selected chapters of sociocultural history will certainly enrich your approaches to literature, civilisation studies,
and translation studies. The readings for the exam will outline a broader background for
the cases discussed in the lectures.
Evaluation and readings
The evaluation of the course will be based on manifold requirements, both written and
oral (see under evaluation procedure). Obligatory readings and materials include the
following list:

Akers, Donna L. “Peter P. Pitchlynn: Race and Identity in Nineteenth-Century
America,” in Charles W. Calhoun, ed. The Human Tradition in America from
the Colonial Era through Reconstruction. Wilmington, Delaware: SR Books,
2002, pp. 179-194. (available in the Department library)

Beiler, Rosalind. “Caspar Wistar: German-American Entrepreneur and Cultural
Broker,” in Charles W. Calhoun, ed. The Human Tradition in America from the
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Anglo-American Culture (BBLAN 03000)
Fall 2008
Lecturer: Karáth Tamás
Colonial Era through Reconstruction. Wilmington, Delaware: SR Books, 2002,
pp. 39-58. (available in the Department library)

Bradshaw, Brendan, Andrew Hadfield and Willy Maley, eds. Representing
Ireland: Literature and the origins of Conflict, 1534-1660. Cambridge
University Press, 1993. Only the following chapters: 1. “Introduction: Irish
representations and English alternatives,” 2. “The English invasion of Ireland,”
and 7. “‘The fatal destiny of that land’: Elizabethan views of Ireland”(available
in the Department library)

Christiansen, Rupert. Victorian Visitors: Culture Shock in Nineteenth-Century
Britain. Grove Press, 2002. Only the following chapters: 1. “Théodore Géricault,
Painter,” 2. “Richard Wagner, Composer,” and 6. “The Teetotum Spin: Exotic
Dancers” (available in the Department library)

Crevecoeur, Hector St. John. Letters from an American Farmer. Letters I, II, and
III. (available at: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/crev/contents.html)

Davies, R. R., ed. Domination and Conquest: The Experience of Ireland,
Scotland and Wales, 1100-1300. Cambridge University Press, 1990. Only
Chapter 1: “Patterns of Domination” (available in the Department library)

Huntington, Samuel P. Kik vagyunk mi? Az amerikai nemzeti identitás dilemmái.
(Ford.: Szabó László Zsolt). I. és II. rész. Budapest: Európa, 2005.

Jenkins, Philip. A History of Modern Wales, 1536-1990. Only the following
chapters: 1. “Introductory: Which Wales?” 4. “Welsh Language and Culture.”
Longman, 1992. (available in the Department library)

Kidd, Colin. Subverting Scotland’s Past. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Only the following chapters: 1. “Introduction,” 2. “Prologue: National identity in
late medieval and early modern Scotland,” and 9. “The Scottish construction of
Anglo-British identity” (available in the Department library)

Morrison, J. and C. Fox Zabusky. The American Mosaic. University of
Pittsburgh Press, 1995. Only the following chapters: Vera Gurchikov, pp. 58-60,
Edward Teller, pp. 188-192, Eugene Wigner, pp. 192-195, Ilona Bertok, pp.
274-282, Laszlo Natalny, pp. 297-303, Sandor Vesely, pp. 304-305.
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Anglo-American Culture (BBLAN 03000)
Fall 2008
Lecturer: Karáth Tamás

Tocqueville, Alexis de. Az amerikai demokrácia. (Ford.: Ádám Péter). Budapest:
Európa, 1993. (Volume II, chapter 2 and 3; English text available at:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/home.html)
Lecture syllabus
Sep. 27 – From Anglo-Saxon to English: The birth of an early English identity in the
Middle Ages
Oct. 4 – Anglo-Irish encounters in the Middle Ages and the early modern period
Oct. 11 – Assimilating the Scottish identity: post-union experiences
Nov. 29 – “Victorian Visitors”: Achievements of Victorian Britain seen from outside
Dec. 6 – America’s early visitors
Dec. 13 – The encounter of the “new immigrants” with American society
Evaluation of the course
The lecture series is completed by a written exam. Two dates will be given in the
examination period to sit for the exam, and an extra one in the re-sit period. It is
inevitable that you register for the exam in the Neptun system. At the exam you will be
asked to elaborate briefly and concretely on questions related to the obligatory readings.
No questions pertaining to minute details will be asked, the questions will only check
your overall familiarity of the readings.
Have a nice semester!
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