The Imaginary and the Actual: Possible Worlds and Fictional Worlds

Education facts

Code: ENPW75

This course will consider a number of narratives from different periods with a focus on the relations between the fictional and the actual, what exists and what may exist, with the help of theories of possible worlds and of fictionality. To analyze literature in terms of fictional worlds implies a different approach than the conventional one characterized by close reading and interpretation. It leads to different questions: instead of asking, what does this novel mean? we will ask, what kind of world is built by this text? That sort of questioning will force us to consider what we mean by a “world” in the first place. We will read a number of literary works whose distinctive fictional worlds claim a reality at least in our ability to imagine what is not the case. Central concepts: Possible worlds; fictionality; referentiality; spatiality; utopia/dystopia, novum

Entry requirements

Bachelor of Arts degree with 90 ECTS credits, or the equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the course (English, literature). Swedish Upper Secondary School course English B/English 6, or the equivalent.

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• The Imaginary and the Actual: Possible Worlds and Fictional Worlds

  Stockholm University

  Start date: 19 January 2026

  End date: 22 March 2026

  Pace of study: 50 %