From Romantics to Decadents: Literary Culture 1789-1900
MODULE CODE
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Module Aims
Aim 1
Evaluate and analyse the literature of the ‘long nineteenth century,’ examining the complexity and variety of forms.
Aim 2
Enable students to acquire a knowledge and understanding of individual texts rom this period through close reading and critical analysis.
Aim 3
Explore the cultural and historical background which frames the emergence and development of writing from the period.
Aim 4
Develop understanding of the impact of writing from this era of the development of English Literature, building on work undertaken in EN1217 Introduction to the Renaissance.
Aim 5
Engage with a range of theoretical models as they apply to such issues as class, gender, identity, and styles of writing and reading, building on work undertaken in EN1215 Literary Theory.
Aim 6
Develop and enhance research, writing and oral presentation skills.
Aim 7
Enhance skills in assessing resources, in print and digital formats.
Module Content
This module will examine a selection of poems and novels from the late-eighteenth through to the Fin de Siècle, assessing the various literary styles that emerged in Romantic and Victorian contexts. The module will emphasise the radically innovative aspects of Romantic writing, both in expression and in thought and feeling, as well as assessing the impact of the ‘Gothic.’ We will also consider the development of the novel in the nineteenth century and the impact of other cultural debates on literary production.
You will be encouraged to consider the historical backgrounds and address the influence on literature of such features as political revolution, economic change, imperialism and urbanisation. We will, throughout this module, examine a selection of literature from a variety of genres, both fiction and nonfiction, emphasising the important historical and cultural contexts to form and structure. Texts, both canonical and non-canonical, will be considered in their own right and in their relationship to each other, to the wider cultural landscape of their production, and the relevance of such texts to contemporary events and debates.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
Learning and Teaching This module is delivered through a range of lecture, seminars, workshops and review session, including film showings and documentaries. We will also make use of online resources, including digital archives as primary resources, as well as scholarly articles for your research. Lectures will foreground the wider theoretical and generic issues appropriate to the module, and seminars will follow up these issues with reference to specific texts (both primary and secondary), providing the opportunity for more detailed application and discussion of these debates. Workshops will be an opportunity for you to participate in the delivery of learning information, through your own presentations and through informal exercises set by your tutor. In seminars and workshop sessions, you will be expected to offer opinions, listen to the opinions of others, and debate key points that enhance your understanding of the literary texts and its importance to academic study. In seminars, therefore, you develop key skills in debating, critical thinking, close reading, analysis and negotiation, as well as subject-specific knowledge and understanding.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through one Presentation/Report and one Essay.
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