ENGM5165 - Catholic Novelists I

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of a representative selection of writings by one or more twentieth-century novelists whose work can be appropriately discussed in relation to Roman Catholicism
2 Analyse with rigour and sensitivity the way the doctrines and traditions of the Roman Catholic church are represented in those writings, drawing on appropriate critical methodologies
3 Critically evaluate and discuss the idea of the ‘Catholic novel’ as a distinctive genre
4 Engage with relevant recent scholarship and debate in relation to the selected writings

Content:

The first session will provide an overview of the ‘Catholic novel’ in the twentieth century: the major ‘Catholic novelists’; the historical context; problems of definition and genre.

Each of the next four sessions will be devoted to analysis and discussion of a different novelist, selected according to student and staff interest from (for example) James Joyce, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Burgess, Muriel Spark, Flannery O’Connor, David Lodge – the list may be extended to include other writers whose works may be studied in translation.

The final session will be given over to a series of prepared discussions on relevant topics chosen by each student as part of their preparation for assessment.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Seminars will make use of a number of learning and teaching methods including: short presentations by tutor; exercises in groups; informal presentations by students; plenary discussions.

6 x 2-hour seminars
Contact hours: 12
Number of Groups: 1

Individual tutorial
Contact hours: 20 minutes

Assessment: