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Welcome to School of Humanities and Social Sciences
CONGRATULATIONS, you are now a member of a creative and diverse community of staff and students here at UEL. We have a commitment to supporting you as you work to make the most of the life-changing possibilities of a critical education in the humanities and social sciences. You will have chosen your programme of study carefully, but whatever courses you are taking with us here, you will benefit from an atmosphere of intellectual excitement led by expert academic and professional staff teams committed to your learning. We want you to participate in our community, to explore your potential and to build a sense of achievement as you acquire and demonstrate new skills and new perspectives.
Undergraduate Programme Handbook:
ENGLISH LITERATURE
School of
Arts and
Digital Industries
2009-10
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Welcome to the School of Arts and Digital Industries
THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND DIGITAL INDUSTRIES is a vibrant, creative community of students, staff, researchers and alumni. Our programmes cover a broad range of disciplines, from fashion, film, fine art and media to design, digital arts and communications, computer games development and animation, music, dance, theatre, and creative writing, cultural and heritage studies, literature and history, and journalism and advertising. Our staff and students produce exciting and ground breaking work, supported by the resources of the University and the wider creative community of East London and beyond.
Structure of the school
The university is organised in schools, and schools are divided into fields. There are seven fields in the School of Arts and Digital Industries. The English Literature programme is part of the Cultural Studies and Creative Industries field, along with related subject areas: History, Creative and Professional Writing, Cultural Studies, Advertising, Journalism. The field leader is Stephen Maddison ([email protected]), who also teaches in Cultural Studies and English Literature.
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About the programme
Literature is a powerful craft, so we have an obligation to take it seriously. -Barbara Kingsolver, Orange Prize winner Welcome to the BA (honours) English Literature degree at the University of East London. Our purpose is to teach literature with energy and imagination, and to inspire our students to read perceptively, think critically and write clearly. You are joining a lively, dynamic learning community, and we look forward to your contributions.
Whether you’re studying English as a single honours student, or with another subject as part of a combined honours programme, we’re delighted to welcome you to our subject area and to UEL. This handbook provides information about the English Literature degree and about studying at UEL more generally.
Please join us on our Facebook page: UEL English Literature
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/128772340578677/
UEL Humanities
As students, teachers and researchers of literature, we are proud to be part of the humanities community at UEL. There are many ways to study and understand the world – how it works, why it looks the way it does, ways in which it might be changed – and literature is one of the best and most rewarding ways to do that. Literature does not exist in isolation; it is part of the fabric of culture and society and therefore we need to study with an understanding of history, philosophy and culture. In the words of James Freedman, President of Dartmouth, ‘Humanities opens our eyes to what life is principally about. It's about understanding yourself and having some resources to deal with everything life throws at you. It's about developing a moral compass and some understanding of how society works, how democracies work.’
Why study English? Ideally, from a love of literature and reading! Beyond a passion for the subject, students studying English Literature are equipped for a wide range of careers and postgraduate opportunities. Our students go on to work and study in many different fields, including teaching, journalism, publishing, corporate communications, public relations, arts and media, law, local government, the charitable/voluntary sector and business. Many of our students want to work as teachers, and we have a good record of acceptances on PGCE and GTP/SCITT teacher training courses. Our programme maps onto the national curriculum, developing knowledge and expertise in both British literature and in literatures outside the western tradition. UEL’s Cass School of Education is often the first choice destination for aspiring teachers, many of whom cite their positive
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experiences on the English Literature programme as a key reason for continuing to study at UEL. Our graduates are skilled critical thinkers and fluent writers -- they understand how to locate, evaluate and communicate information. They have also learned to manage their time effectively and can work both collaboratively and independently. All employers value particular skills, especially the ability to think analytically and creatively and the capacity to understand and communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively. The English Literature degree develops these transferrable skills throughout the course of study. UEL’s English Literature graduates are prepared to be thoughtful readers, writers, thinkers and citizens.
The learning environment
The student population at UEL is diverse in terms of ethnicity, experiences, international links, age and social background. This creates a dynamic learning environment, to which students are encouraged to bring their own ideas and experiences. We pride ourselves on a relaxed, informed, supportive and respectful setting. Students are encouraged to develop their own views by engaging with various perspectives and debates. We are all on a first-name basis at UEL – please call us by our first names, and we’ll do the same. You will find our staff approachable and eager to help.
Learning, teaching and assessment
Teaching usually takes place over three days of the week. There are nine to ten hours of timetabled classes each week, structured around a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. We emphasise developing the skills to work both independently and as part of a group, whether in discussion, projects, coursework or research. Assessments reflect this range of work and study. The programme sets high standards and offers support and guidance so that all students reach their potential.
Teaching methods vary across modules, years and subject areas. Some modules are taught in a combination of lectures and seminars, while others use whole-group teaching and workshops. Tutorials with academic staff supplement learning in the classroom, and independent learning is central to degree-level study. We make our teaching as varied and student-centred as possible in delivering the learning objectives of each module and the programme as whole. Lectures provide a concise overview of a topic and introduce approaches to a given subject – they guide study. Seminars are smaller, discussion-oriented groups where students work interactively. In tutorials students have the opportunity to discuss academic work directly with their tutor, either individually or in small groups. Workshops take a variety of forms, and focus on developing both critical thinking and collaborative work and learning. Modules are assessed through essays, exams and group presentations. Each form of assessment develops a particular set of skills that relate to our understanding of literature, and expands our abilities to analyse and interpret literary texts.
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Structure of the English Literature programme The English Literature degree at UEL is an interesting and imaginative programme, which offers a rich and diverse experience. It includes a strong foundation in British literature, beginning in the early modern period and moving through to contemporary writing. Alongside this chronological strand of the degree, students have the opportunity to select modules with varied themes. We see literature as part of culture as a whole – located within and sometimes struggling against a complex web of ideas, values and histories. Because we approach literature in this way, students are also expected to select at least one module from outside our area, in subjects including (but not limited to) Creative Writing, History, Film Studies, Media Studies and Psychosocial Studies.
The academic year
The academic year is divided into two twelve-week teaching semesters. Full time students study three modules per semester; part time students register for either one or two modules each semester. In each year there will be a mix of core (compulsory) modules and options.
Options for study
Students may study English Literature as a single honours degree or with another subject as part of a combined honours programme. For single honours students, there is an opportunity to pursue a strand of History, Creative Writing or Film Studies as part of the degree, taking at least one module in those subject areas in each year. Combined honours students can select either a major/minor or joint honours degree. For the major/minor, two thirds of coursework is in the major subject area and the remaining third in the minor subject area. Joint honours students split their studies evenly between two subject areas.
Year by year
At university we study far more texts than you will have read at GCSE, A level or on access courses – we emphasise developing a breadth of knowledge across the subject. Not only do we study more literature (the primary texts), we also read extensively to learn what others have said about these texts – secondary sources are an important part of study in HE. Expect to read much more widely and much more quickly.
Year 1 is a broad-based, largely thematic introduction to studying literature in higher education. We introduce the study of literary form and literary theory, applying ideas about these areas to specific texts. In addition, we learn about how the study of literature has developed (and continues to develop) over time. There are also modules that examine specific themes, genres or historical periods, including the self in literature, Shakespearean drama and popular fiction.
In the second year we begin our chronological study of British literature, starting in the early modern (‘English renaissance’) period and moving through to the beginning of the twentieth century. Alongside this strand of the degree are modules that engage with particular national traditions such as American (US) literature, and approaches to understanding the relationship between literature and culture more broadly.
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The final year of study includes modules that look in depth at some of the key movements and moments in twentieth and twenty-first century literature, including modernism, postmodernism and post-colonial literature. Working with a member of staff, students will develop, research and write an extended independent research project – the dissertation – focusing on an area they are interested in learning more about. There is also the opportunity to select option modules in English, Creative Writing, History, Film, Media or other subject areas.
The grids on the following pages outline the programme structure for single honours, major/minor and joint honours students, followed by brief descriptions of all core modules, including when the modules are available, how they are assessed and some indicative reading.
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BA (honours) ENGLISH LITERATURE: YEAR 1
SINGLE HONOURS
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC1403 Making the Modern Self (M AM) CC1302 Ways of Reading (W AM)
CC1300 Critical Approaches to Humanities I (Tu AM)
CC1303 Popular Fiction (F PM)OR CC1305 Approaches to Shakespeare (Tu PM) (may select both)^
CC1301 Forms and Texts (W AM) Option
^CC1302 is a co-requisite for both Popular Fiction and Approaches to Shakespeare.
OPTIONS:
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC1101 Creative Imagination (M AM) CC1102 The Writer’s Voice (M PM) CC1401 Patterns in Imperial History (Th PM) CC1405 London History (Th PM) MS1202 Early and Silent Cinema (Tu PM) CC1406 Britain in the 19th C (M PM) MS1407 Media and Gender (Tu AM) MS1406 Film Analysis (Th PM) MS1204 Classical Hollywood (F PM) ENGLISH MAJOR
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC1300 Critical Approaches to Humanities (Tu AM)
CC1302 Ways of Reading (W AM)
CC1301 Forms and Texts (W AM) CC1303 Popular Fiction OR CC1305 Approaches to Shakespeare
Core/option in minor subject area Core/option in minor subject area
JOINT HONOURS
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC1300 or equivalent module in joint subject area*
CC1302 Ways of Reading (W AM)
CC1301 Forms and Texts (W AM) Core/option in joint subject area*
Core/option in joint subject area Core/option in joint subject area*
*Students who do not select CC1300 must register for CC1303 Popular Fiction OR CC1305 Approaches to Shakespeare.
ENGLISH MINOR
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC1301 Forms and Texts (W AM) CC1302 Ways of Reading (W AM)
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CORE MODULES – YEAR 1
CC1300: Critical Approaches to Humanities
Critical Approaches to Humanities introduces English Literature students to the processes of academic research and writing in higher education, with a focus on developing skills in critical and evaluative writing and collaborative learning. We examine the emergence of English Literature as an area of academic study – although English degrees were first awarded in Britain in 1828, the study of literature has a considerably longer history, stretching back to classical antiquity. The module introduces some of the key concepts that we will study in more depth and detail throughout the degree: gender, nation and national identity and power. We situate these historically, in order to make sense of how our understanding and experience of them has changed over time, and how they’ve been represented in literature. Core for single honours students and English majors, option for joint honours students Semester A only Indicative reading: Hopkins, Thinking About Texts; Featherstone, Doing English; Alexander, A History of English Literature; Osborne, Megawords; Burke, ‘Canon Fodder;’ Kramnick, ‘The Making of the English Canon;’ Eagleton, ‘The Rise of English;’ Klages, ‘Humanist Literary Theory;’ Schechner, ‘The Canon;’ Shaw, Mrs Warren’s Profession Assessed by one essay and one group presentation
CC1301: Forms and Texts
The study of literature encompasses a range of forms, the most familiar of which are poetry, drama, the novel and the short story. In Forms and Texts we study some of the ways that structure and language create meaning. We focus on the importance of textual analysis as part of wider debates about interpreting literature. The module also introduces some of the key literary movements and ideas – such as realism, romanticism, modernism and absurdism – that will be examined in more detail on the English Literature degree. Core for all students in English Literature
Semester A only
Indicative reading: Durant, Fabb and Furniss, Ways of Reading; Boyle, The Tortilla Curtain; Banks, The Sweet Hereafter; Borges, ‘The Secret Miracle;’ Cortazar, ‘Continuity of Parks;’ Guare, Six Degrees of Separation; Ionesco, Les Chaises; selection of poetry from the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries Assessed by one textual analysis and one essay
CC1301 is a pre-requisite for all literature modules in Years 2 and 3
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CC1403: Making the Modern Self
All literature is, at some level, concerned with the self and human experience. This module explores the changing experience of western selfhood, incorporating literary and historical texts to illustrate how thinking about the self has developed and changed from the early modern period to the twentieth century. We read a variety of texts, including autobiographies, diaries, letters, novels and poetry, to look at ideas about the self in relation to religion, the soul, the unconscious, gender, race, sexuality and class. Core for single honours students, option for joint honours students
Semester A only Indicative reading: Wilde, ‘De Profoundis;’ Freud, Interpretation of Dreams; Lamming, In the Castle of My Skin; Wilmot (Lord Rochester), selected poems; Wollstonecraft, A Short Residence in Sweden; Pepys, selections from Diaries; Bunyan, Grace Abounding Assessed by two essays
CC1302: Ways of Reading
Ways of Reading introduces the key interpretive frameworks that help us make sense of literary texts. We look at how these frameworks – theories – can be applied to literature in order to produce different interpretations, and in how theories of literature and culture have changed over time. Theories we will study include structuralism, Marxism, psychoanalytic theory, feminism, postcolonial theory and deconstruction. Core for all students in English Literature
Semester B only
Indicative reading: Tyson, Critical Theory Today; Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; Toibin, Brooklyn Assessed by one essay and an exam
CC1302 is a pre-requisite for all literature modules in Years 2 and 3
CC1303: Popular Fiction
In this module we look at various forms of genre fiction, including science fiction and fantasy, teen fiction, detective/crime fiction and romances. We examine the key aspects of each form, including style, theme, plot and character. The popular has something to tell us about the world we live in, so we also consider the relationship between various genres and culture more widely, to understand their social significance. Option for single honours students, English majors and joint honours students Semester B only Indicative reading: Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Meyers, Twilight; Wyndham, The Chrysaldis; Fielding, Bridget Jones’ Diary; Rowling, Harry Potter and the
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Half-Blood Prince; Conan Doyle; The Speckled Band and Other Stories; LeCarre, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Assessed by one essay and one group presentation CC1305: Approaches to Shakespeare William Shakespeare is one of the most significant writers in the English language, and his work is a cornerstone of the study of literature in higher education. Why has Shakespeare remained so important, and what can his work tell us about our contemporary world? We study a range of Shakespearean drama in order to understand its importance both historically and culturally. In addition to a close analysis of the texts, we will consider some of the many possible interpretations of these plays – both in theory and in practice. Option for single honours students, English majors and joint honours students Semester B only Indicative reading: Shakespeare, The Tempest; Richard III; Henry V; Much Ado About Nothing; Macbeth; The Merchant of Venice; McEvoy, Shakespeare: The Basics; Ryan, Shakespeare; Wells and Orlin, Shakespeare: An Oxford Guide Assessed by one critical analysis and one essay
OPTION MODULES – YEAR 1 SEMESTER A CC1101 Creative Imagination – Monday AM How do writers begin to imagine? This Creative Writing module introduces different processes and approaches in the development of fiction. Students will examine poetry, prose and scripts to explore the strategies that support creative writing. Assessment: portfolio, revised essay, critical reflection CC1401 Patterns in Imperial History – Thursday AM How did Britain’s empire originate, rise and fall? In this History module, the emergence of this global empire is set in the context of the growing economic and political power of the west. Case studies include Britain’s role in the Atlantic slave trade, the significance of India and Australia and the aftermath of colonialism. Assessment: two essays MS1202 Early and Silent Cinema – Tuesday PM What can we learn about film from the silent era? This Film Studies module examines a range of silent and early films to situate them historically and examine their enduring significance. Assessment: two essays
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SEMESTER B CC1102 The Writer’s Voice – Monday AM What is the voice, and how is it developed as part of creating fiction? In this Creative Writing module, students will examine the role of voice in fiction, poetry and dramatic writing. Assessment: portfolio, revised assignments, critical preface CC1405 London History and Heritage – Thursday PM How did London become a world city? This History module gives a broad overview of London’s development from the sixteenth century to the present, examining how London has been visualised and represented through case studies including entertainment, crime and underground cultures. Assessment: one presentation, one essay CC1406 Britain in the Long 19th Century – Monday PM Why is the nineteenth century so important to our understanding of Britain, both historically and in contemporary life? This History module explores industrialisation, democratisation and imperialism to assess their impact on social and cultural life in relation to class, gender and empire. Assessment: two essays MS1407 Media and Gender – Tuesday AM How is gender represented in different forms of media, and what is the significance of these representations to our understanding of identity? This Media Studies module examines how gender is constructed, reproduced and contested in film, television, magazines and virtual environments. Assessment: two essays MS1204 Classical Hollywood – Friday PM Why and how did Hollywood cinema become so influential? This Film Studies module uses a variety of case studies to trace the development of the classical era in the US studio system to assess its historical and cultural significance. Assessment: two essays MS 1406 Film Analysis – Thursday PM What are some of the different ways we can interpret films? This Film Studies module introduces a range of films and approaches to interpretation. Assessment: two essay
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BA (honours) ENGLISH LITERATURE: YEAR 2
SINGLE HONOURS
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC2302 Early Modern Literature (Tu PM) CC2300 Culture, Knowledge, Power (F PM)
CC2301 Origins of the Novel (Th AM) CC2304 19C Literature (Th AM)
Option CC2307 American Literature (Tu PM)
OPTIONS: CC2405 Cultural Change/Cultural Anxiety (F AM) *CC2104 Lyric, Rhythm and Sound (Th PM) *CC2105 Story and Myth (W AM) MS2103 Youth Cultures (M AM) MS2203 Documentary Cinema (Tu AM) MS2204 Film and Critical Theory I (Th AM) VT2006 Visual Communication and Cultural Meaning (F PM) ED2500 Volunteering (W AM) (Stratford campus) *pre-requisite: CC1101 or CC1102 ENGLISH MAJOR
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC2302 Early Modern Literature (Tu PM) CC2300 Culture, Knowledge, Power (F PM)
CC2301 Origins of the Novel CC2304 19th Century Literature (Th AM)
Core/option in minor subject area Core/option in minor subject area
JOINT HONOURS
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC2301 Origins of the Novel (Th AM) CC2307 American Literature (Tu PM) OR CC2304 19th Century Literature (Th AM)
Core/option in joint subject area* CC2300 Culture, Knowledge, Power (F PM) OR equivalent module in joint subject area*
Core/option in joint subject area* Core/option in joint subject area*
*Students who do not select CC2300 must register for CC2302 Early Modern Literature (Tu PM) in Semester A. Students planning to write their dissertations in English Literature should register for CC2304 in Semester B. ENGLISH MINOR
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC2302 Early Modern Literature (Tu PM) OR CC2301 Origins of the Novel (Th AM)
CC2304 19th Century Literature (Th AM) OR CC2307 American Literature (Tu PM)
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CORE MODULES – YEAR 2
CC2302: Early Modern Literature
The chronological strand of the degree begins with this module, which introduces the poetry and drama of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and some of the critical debates around this literature. The ‘English renaissance’ produced some of Britain’s most enduring and valued literature, and we situate our analysis of this poetry and drama within the fascinating religious, political and social turmoil of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. Among the issues we will explore are gender, power, sexuality, the self, nation and national identity and religion. Core for single honours students and majors, option for joint honours students and minors
Semester A only
Indicative reading: selected poetry by Donne, Herbert, Jonson, Wroth, Marvell, Shakespeare, Sidney, Herrick, Lanyer and others; Shakespeare, Hamlet; Marlowe, Dr Faustus; Webster, The Duchess of Malfi; Milton, Paradise Lost Assessed by one textual analysis and one essay
CC2301: Origins of the Novel
When we think about reading or studying literature, the novel is the form that often springs to mind. How did the novel evolve to become the dominant literary form? What social and historical forces shaped its emergence? Alongside a survey of key texts in eighteenth and early nineteenth century literature, this module examines the development of the novel as a literary form. Our study of the origins of the novel brings together the cultural significance of the form, literary movements including the gothic, romanticism and realism, and issues such as race, class and gender. Core for single honours students, majors and joint honours students, option for minors
Semester A only
Indicative reading: Defoe, Robinson Crusoe; Behn, Oronooko; Richardson, Pamela; Fielding, Tom Jones; Radcliffe, The Italian; Austen, Pride and Prejudice; Dickens, Hard Times; Shelley, Frankenstein
Assessed by one essay and one exam
CC2304: Nineteenth Century Literature
The industrial revolution, urbansiation, the growth of the British empire, questions about established ideas in religion and science – the nineteenth century is a significant period in British culture and literature. This module explores themes including the impact of urban and industrial life on people’s material and psychological wellbeing, empire, race, gender and sexuality. We look at the way some of the key concerns of the Victorian
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period – including science, religion and doubt – were represented in various literary movements in the later nineteenth century. Core for single honours students and majors, may be selected by joint honours students and minors; joint honours students planning to write their dissertations in English Literature should register for this module
Semester B only
Indicative reading: Wilde, Salome; Stoker, Dracula; Wells, The Time Machine; Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Assessed by one group presentation and one research project
CC2307: American Literature In 1941, Time publisher Henry Luce described the twentieth century as ‘the American century.’ One of the most interesting ways to understand the impact and significance of American culture is through the study of literature. This module explores literature from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries in order to understand some significant issues in US culture. These include the American dream, the intersection of national identity and gender, individualism, place and space and the literary legacies of the Atlantic slave trade. We examine the emergence of regional, ethnic and urban literatures as part of the continually shifting landscape of the American imagination. Core for single honours students, option for joint honours students and minors Semester B only Indicative reading: Banks, Dreaming Up America; Melville, ‘Bartleby, the Scrivener;’ Crane, ‘The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky;’ Albee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf; Faulkner, ‘A Rose for Emily;’ O’Connor, ‘The Displaced Person;’ Alvarez, ‘The Rudy Elmenhurst Story;’ Jackson, ‘The Lottery;’ Anderson, ‘Adventure;’ Lardner, ‘Haircut;’ Moore, ‘Starving Again;’ Rash, ‘Back of Beyond;’ Yates, ‘Liars in Love;’ selected poems by Cullen, Hughes, Baraka, Clifton, Jordan, Giovanni Assessed by one textual analysis and one essay CC2300: Culture/Knowledge/Power
Why pay thousands of pounds a year to study English when people can read novels in their spare time? Do we really need so many students of history when there are already specialists clogging our bookshelves and airwaves? Shouldn’t we just enjoy popular culture rather than analysing all the pleasure out of it by pretending it means more than it does? Isn’t it smarter and more practical to study vocational subjects that have direct links to particular industries and jobs? Many people would argue that a humanities degree is sheer indulgence – a course of study that may be interesting and enjoyable but that has no practical application or relevance. This module provides the opportunity for students to explore the relationship between issues and debates in the humanities and the ways these are understood, represented and operate outside an academic setting – we begin by considering what kinds of knowledge are produced in the
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humanities and how this knowledge is translated into cultural capital and cultural value in society. In addition, students will use their academic knowledge and skills to situate themselves in the context of personal and professional development.
Core for single honours students and majors, option for joint honours students Semester B only Reading includes: Darnton, The Case for Books: Past, Present and Future; deGroot, The Historical Novel; Young, White Mythologies: Writing History and the West; Hasan, Multiculturalism: Some Inconvenient Truths Assessed by one essay and one portfolio OPTION MODULES – YEAR 2 CC2104 Lyric, Rhythm and Sound – Thursday PM This Creative Writing module looks at poetry in terms of both form and technique: the sonnet, free verse, the skeltonic, concrete poetry, sound poetry, collage, language poetry and the process of revising and editing. Assessment: portfolio of poems, critical reflection Pre-requisite: CC1101 (Creative Imagination) or CC1102 (The Writer’s Voice) CC2105 Story and Myth – Wednesday AM This Creative Writing module examines the historical and cultural origins of stories and myths and the ways that they embody and bring to life symbolic representations and meanings: the processes that contribute to creating stories, the ways that narratives are structured and the meanings of structure. Assessment: portfolio, essay Pre-requisite: CC1101 (Creative Imagination) or CC1102 (The Writer’s Voice) CC2405 Cultural Change/Cultural Anxiety – Friday AM Drawing on historical sources including literature and film, this History module explores key developments in British society between 1951 and 1979. Issues include the end of empire, immigration and race relations, gender and family, sexuality and the sexual revolution and the growth of consumer and youth cultures. Assessment: textual analysis, essay MS 2103 Youth Cultures – Monday AM This Media Studies module examines the formation, representation and politics of youth cultures, including their changing relationship to mass media, identity and cultural difference, processes of commodification and the ways that young people resist, negotiate and adopt images and values associated with youth. Assessment: two essays MS2203 Documentary Cinema – Tuesday AM This Film Studies module explores several facets of nonfiction film, including different theoretical/interpretive frameworks.
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Assessment: two essays MS2204 Film and Critical Theory I – Tuesday AM This Film Studies module draws on different cinematic genres to examine the relationship between films, audiences and various theoretical/interpretive frameworks. Assessment: two essays VT2006 Visual Communication and Cultural Meaning – Friday PM This Visual Theories module deals with the ways we can analyse visual texts and the historical factors that influence our analysis. Analysing a range of visual and oral texts in both traditional and new media, the module examines the impact of printing, photography and digitisation on the production, distribution and interpretation of visual texts. Assessment: one essay, one essay/research project ED2500 Volunteering – Wednesday AM (Stratford campus) Volunteering plays an important role in today’s society. It is a positive force which can enhance social and labour market inclusion and build bridges between diverse communities. It can also provide opportunities to ‘give something back’. The experience of volunteering is valuable for gaining different perspectives and building a strong CV. UEL is committed to encouraging and supporting our students to participate in volunteer action and this Year 2 module has been created for all students in all subject areas. Assessment: volunteering report, reflective essay
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BA (honours) ENGLISH LITERATURE: YEAR 3
SINGLE HONOURS
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC3000 Dissertation (M AM) CC3000 Dissertation
CC3301 Modernity, Literature and Culture (Tu AM)
CC3302 Postmodern Fiction (Tu AM)
Option Option
OPTIONS: SEMESTER A SEMESTER B *CC3303 Life Writing (F AM) CC3307 The Mediterranean World (M AM) CC340 History and Memory (W AM) MS3104 Working Class Culture (W PM) MS3101 The Public Sphere MS3405 World Cinema (W PM)
recommended option *pre-requisite: CC1101 or CC1102 ENGLISH MAJOR
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC3000 Dissertation (M AM) Dissertation
CC3301 Modernity, Literature and Culture (Tu AM)
CC3302 Postmodern Fiction (Tu AM)
Core/option in minor subject area Core/option in minor subject area
JOINT HONOURS
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC3000 Dissertation or equivalent module in joint subject area* (M AM)
CC3000 Dissertation or equivalent module in joint subject area*
CC3301 Modernity, Literature and Culture (Tu AM)
CC3302 Postmodern Fiction (Tu AM)*
Core/option in joint subject area Core/option in joint subject area
*Students who research and write their dissertations in English Literature will register for CC3000 and CC3301 but not for CC3302. Students who write their dissertations in their joint subject area must register for CC3301 Modernity Literature and Culture, CC3302 Postmodern Fiction and CC3307 The Mediterranean World in Semester B. ENGLISH MINOR
SEMESTER A SEMESTER B
CC3301 Modernity, Literature and Culture (Tu AM)
CC3302 Postmodern Fiction (Tu AM)
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CORE MODULES – YEAR 3
CC3000: Dissertation
Running across both semesters of the third year, this module allows students to plan, research and write an independent research project, working with the support of a member of staff. The dissertation is an opportunity for students to conduct in-depth research in an area of interest, and demonstrates graduate skills in critical thinking and analysis, organization, project management and independent work. Core for single honours students and majors, option for joint honours students Semesters A and B
Reading: to be determined by student, with agreement of assigned supervisor.
Assessed by a critical/contextual analysis, short presentation required in the first semester of study, completed dissertation
CC3301: Modernity, Literature and Culture
With the rise of the modernist movement in literature, art and architecture, the early twentieth century is a fascinating period, in which artists and writers strove to fulfil Ezra Pound’s dictum, ‘make it new.’ This module places literature within the wider framework of modernist artistic practices, in order to apply a range of theoretical perspectives that produce varied interpretations of texts. We also examine the construction of ‘high’ literary modernism and its relationship to popular culture and texts.
Core for all students in English Literature
Semester A only
Indicative reading: Woolf, To the Lighthouse; Orwell, 1984; James, The Turn of the Screw; Gibbons, Cold Comfort Farm; Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man; Rhys, Good Morning, Midnight; Eliot, ‘The Waste Land;’ Kafka, ‘Metamorphosis.’
Assessed by one essay and one exam
CC3302: Postmodern Fiction
We often read or hear that we live in a postmodern society. What does postmodernity mean, and has it changed the way literature is written and interpreted? In this module, we explore the relationship of postmodern literature to issues such as identity, postcolonialism and gender politics. To do this, we locate the study of literature within debates about postmodern culture more widely. In addition to literary fiction, we look at the emergence of different popular genres, including cyberpunk and feminist detective fiction. Core for all students in English Literature Semester B only
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Indicative reading: Calvino, If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller; Carter, The Bloody Chamber; Cunningham, The Hours; Mitchell, Cloud Atlas; Jones, Mr Pip; Puig, Kiss of the Spider Woman. Assessed by one essay and one group presentation
CC3307: The Mediterranean World
East/West. North/South. Rich/Poor. Islam/Christianity. In many ways, the Mediterranean is both a microcosm of and a meeting point for debates about politics, religion, history and art – encompassing many national traditions and three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. The Mediterranean is also a site of many contemporary debates. This interdisciplinary module examines the literature and history of a fascinating region. Organised around themes of travel, trade, religion and identity, The Mediterranean World brings together varied national traditions and periods in literature and history.
Core for joint honours students who write their dissertations in their other subject areas; option for single honours students Semester B only Indicative reading: Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra; Tennyson, ‘Ulysses;’ Homer, Odyssey (extracts); Bowles, The Sheltering Sky; Burroughs, Interzone; Maalouf, Leo the African and Balthasar’s Odyssey; Abulafia, The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean. Assessed by one textual/documentary analysis and one essay
OPTION MODULES – YEAR 3 SEMESTER A *CC3303 Life Writing – Friday AM This Creative Writing module examines contemporary biography and life writing from both critical and creative perspectives. Assessment: portfolio, essay *Pre-requisite: CC1101 (Creative Imagination) or CC1102 (The Writer’s Voice) CC3404 History and Memory – Wednesday AM This History module explores debates around representation, truth and memory to reflect on the ways historical events are represented and commemorated in the public sphere and the ways in which individuals remember the past. Assessment: two essays
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MS3101 Communication and the Public Sphere – Thursday PM This Media Studies module assesses the ways we communicate in the public sphere, considering digital and virtual communication, cyber-identities and citizenship, cultural diversity, subcultures and new social movements. Assessment: two essays SEMESTER B CC3307 The Mediterranean World – Monday AM Moving across historical periods and national traditions, this English Literature module brings together themes including travel, religion, empire and exile through an analysis and historical contextualisation of a range of literature from the Mediterranean world. Assessment: textual analysis, essay MS3405 World Cinema – Wednesday PM This Film Studies module looks at cinema from a global perspective, examining films from different national traditions and genres to explore issues including self and identity, cultural difference, empire and gender. Assessment: two essays MS3104 Exploring Working Class Culture – Wednesday PM This Media Studies module examines what makes working class culture significant and different, including working class subcultures, trades unions, gender politics and multiculturalism. Assessment: two essays
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Opportunities There are many opportunities available to English Literature students. These include:
International exchange – available in Semester B, Year 2 Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity to experience another culture. UEL offers exchanges during the academic year and in various summer programmes. In recent years, English Literature students have studied in Australia, Canada, the US and China. Students interested in pursuing an international exchange should speak with Marianne Wells, programme leader, no later than the beginning of Semester A in Year 2. A good starting point is the International Department’s webpages:
http://www.uel.ac.uk/international/study/exchanges.htm
Going Global bursary – available to all students Students can design their own short-term study or research abroad using UEL’s Going Global bursary. The application process is competitive. A good starting point is the International Department’s webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/international/study/going-global-bursary-FAQS.htm
Student Associate Scheme UEL’s Student Associate Scheme is designed for aspiring teachers: students are placed in local schools in order to gain experience and meet educators. Students interested in applying for the Student Associate Scheme should begin here: http://www.uel.ac.uk/education/teacher/sas.htm.
Students interested in teaching are well-supported throughout the degree. In addition to the Student Associate Scheme, there are sessions in both the first and second years which provide students with information and guidance about working in education and the application process for PGCE and GTP courses. In Year 2 students will have the opportunity to meet the programme leader in Secondary Education/ English in UEL’s Cass School of Education.
Research Internships Internships are an excellent way both to gain work experience and broaden academic knowledge and expertise. A range of internships are offered across the university each year; look for the Humanities internships when these are announced in the spring of each year. The application process is competitive and requires an interview.
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English PEN https://www.facebook.com/UelPenSociety http://www.englishpen.org
Royal Society of Literature http://www.rslit.org.
Raphael Samuel History Centre The RSHC is a partnership between UEL, Birkbeck College/University of London and the Bishopsgate Institute. Offering a wide range of programmes, conferences, talks other public events throughout the year, this research and educational centre encourages participation in historical research and debate across a wide range of areas. http://raphael-samuel.org.uk
Centre for Cultural Studies Research UEL’s CCSR is an interdisciplinary research centre founded to encourage research and debate in contemporary culture and cultural production. The centre sponsors a range of programmes and seminars throughout the year. http://uel.ac.uk/ccsr/index.htm
Centre for Narrative Research Based in UEL’s School of Law and Social Sciences, CNR is an international and interdisciplinary centre, which supports research on spoken, written and visual narratives. The centre presents a range of seminars and programmes throughout the year. http://uel.ac.uk/cnr
The Writing Centre UEL’s Writing Centre is an important resource for all aspects of the written word. In addition to creative writing events throughout the year, the centre offers one to one and small group sessions for students who want to improve their academic writing. http://uel.ac.uk/writingcentre
Study time and becoming an independent student
One of the most challenging transitions from school, college or work to higher education is becoming an independent student. Degree students are responsible for organising their own learning, rather than being closely supervised and monitored most of the time. This freedom allows students to develop their own learning strategies and styles. It’s important to establish good practice from the beginning of the course: attendance, punctuality and independent study time are absolutely key to success on the degree.
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We’re happy to help with ideas about time management and organising independent learning! The total of timetabled hours will vary from module to module. The norm is three to four hours per week over the course of the teaching period. Contact time – the time spent in classrooms with tutors – forms only a small part of the time required to successfully complete degree-level work. A full time programme of study is accredited on the assumption that students are engaged in academic work for approximately 35 hours in each week of the semester. Class time (contact hours) accounts for only 9 to 10 hours – students are expected to spend at least 8 hours each week studying for each module: reading the set texts and background material, note-taking and preparation for assessed coursework, which includes research, writing drafts and revising for submission. Students who devote less time to their studies, who read only the set texts and write essays the night before the deadline do not achieve high marks. Students are awarded credit for 200 study hours on each module in the programme (20 credits = 200 hours). In general terms students should plan to spend 10 to 12 hours on each module during each week for the semester. A typical breakdown for each module on a weekly basis might be:
Attending lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops – 3/4 hours
Preparing for a seminar (completing an exercise, reading, thinking about pre-set questions) –4 hours
Gathering information for a forthcoming assignment (reading, accessing electronic databases, taking notes, evaluating sources) -- 4/5 hours
Weekly total = 12 hours per module
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Staff: who we are, what we do and where to find us
Our programme draws on the knowledge, expertise and interests of a committed team. All members of academic staff are available to see students during regularly scheduled office hours throughout the semester. Tutors will announce these arrangements during the first week of teaching.
Dr Cathy Blackford Room EB2.39 (East Building, second floor) Internal phone x2764 External phone 0208 223 2764 Email [email protected] Cathy teaches across both the English Literature and History programmes. Her particular interests are in the intersection between historical and literary discourses. In the English Literature programme, Cathy teaches modules in literary form, literary theory, nineteenth century British literature and Mediterranean literature.
Dr Rosalind Carr Room EB2.19 (East Building, second floor) Internal phone x7831 External phone 0208 223 7831 Email [email protected] Rosi is a cultural historian who teaches on interdisciplinary modules in English. Her research focuses on gender and the enlightenment in eighteenth century Scotland. In the English programme, Rosi teaches modules in contemporary and historical approaches to humanities and in the relationship between culture, power and knowledge. Dr Roberta Garrett Room EB2.52 (East Building, second floor) Internal phone x7483 External phone 020 8223 7483 Email [email protected] Roberta’s research focuses on literature’s connections to other cultural forms and issues, including family and family policy, book groups and contemporary film. She teaches modules on modernist and postmodern literature, eighteenth century literature and popular fiction.
Dr Kate Hodgkin Room EB2.35 (East Building, second floor) Internal phone x 2934 External phone 020 8223 2934 Email [email protected]
Kate teaches in both the English Literature and History programmes. In each subject area, she researches gender, subjectivity and identity in the early modern period,
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particularly in relation to writing, religion and madness. Kate teaches English Literature modules in the history and construction of the self and early modern literature.
Dr Stephen Maddison Room EB2.63 Internal phone x6240 External phone 020 8223 6240 Email [email protected] Stephen is Field Leader for Cultural Studies and Creative Industries and teaches in English Literature and Cultural Studies. His research interests include popular culture, representation, cultural politics, sexual cultures, queer theory, culture and biotechnology and culture and the body. In English Literature, Stephen teaches Approaches to Shakespeare.
Professor Peter Morey Room EB2.51 (East Building, second floor) Internal phone x7693 External phone 020 8223 7693 Email [email protected] Peter works in the field of colonial and postcolonial literature and theory, especially relating to India. He has written on many areas, including the gothic and supernatural in Kipling stories, and narrative and power in British fictions of India. Peter teaches modules on modernist and postmodern literature, postcolonial literature and eighteenth century writing.
Dr Marianne Wells (Programme Leader) Room EB1.33 (East Building, first floor) Internal phone x2540 External phone 020 8223 2540 Email [email protected] Marianne is the programme leader for English Literature, and teaches modules on literary form, literary theory, early modern drama and American literature. Her research interests are in twentieth and twenty-first century American (US), Anglophone and British drama, literature and film, particularly in constructions and representations of gender and national identity, and feminist literary and cultural theory.
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English Literature programme aims and learning outcomes
The skills the English Literature programme develops serve students well in a wide range of potential careers and professions. The ability to think critically and communicate clearly is an essential component of any graduate-level job.
The programme is designed to provide the opportunity to:
Acquire and develop a critical understanding of literature, within a highly interactive and innovative teaching and learning environment.
Provide a broad understanding of the key issues and topics in contemporary literary study and theory, at the same time as expanding your knowledge and enjoyment of literature in English.
Study novels, poetry, plays and short stories from different historical periods and from various cultural and national contexts. We ask how practices of reading and writing have been influenced by changing philosophical and historical currents.
Think about many questions, including what is literature? Who defines and values literary productions, and how have these ideas about literary value been shaped and altered over time? And how do factors such as gender, class, race and national identity shape literary production and reception?
Develop new skills in critical thinking and the ability to express yourself in writing and presenting.
These programme aims are connected to the learning outcomes students can expect on the degree:
Knowledge
Of key debates in literature and related areas that have shaped contemporary culture.
Of different theoretical approaches to understanding how literary texts can be interpreted.
Of both canonical and non-canonical literary texts in many different forms and national traditions.
Thinking skills
Thinking conceptually, synthesising theory with practice.
Undertaking critical and constructive analysis of texts.
Organising investigation and research.
Subject-based practical skills
Competence in a range of technical skills: IT databases and word processing, research.
Organisation and execution of analytical writing and presenting.
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Competence in written and oral expression. Skills for life and work (general skills)
Communicate in an informed, cogent and confident manner - in writing, in speech, in professional presentation.
Independently organise and manage a workload effectively.
Work productively as part of a team
English Literature programme specification
http://www.uel.ac.uk/undergraduate/specs/englishliterature/
Attendance policy Students are expected to attend regularly, and the government requires that we monitor attendance. In line with the university’s attendance policy, any student whose attendance is below 75% on any module will be withdrawn. In order to be considered in attendance, students must attend all sections of a module: lectures, seminars, workshops. Students are responsible for registering attendance at each section of any module. Lateness policy In response to student complaints about the disruption caused by latecomers, there is a lateness policy for all English Literature modules. Classes begin promptly at the advertised starting time, and students are expected to be settled in their seats, with mobile phones turned off, at this time. Students who arrive up to fifteen minutes late may enter the room unobtrusively, taking care not to disrupt other students or staff . Students who arrive more than fifteen minutes late may not enter the room until the break. If there is no break, students must wait for seminars or workshops to begin before entering classrooms. Equal opportunities ADI staff and students are fully supportive of the Students’ Union and University’s equal opportunities policy. No student or member of staff should be disadvantaged on the grounds of race, class, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We agree that all members of the UEL community are entitled to be treated with courtesy according to these consensual norms of mutual respect and understanding.
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