ENG4122 - Beasts, Battles and Buttresses: Medieval Literature

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of a range of cultural, political and social contexts that shape the form and meaning of literary texts.
Analyse examples of medieval texts which engage with social and political issues using appropriate critical and theoretical frameworks.
Investigate a research question focusing on the political and social contexts of medieval literary texts.
Communicate individual research findings effectively in different formats.
Demonstrate an understanding of how medieval narratives continue to influence contemporary culture.

Content:

This module is designed to introduce Level 4 students to reading texts within context; in this case, medieval texts. Students will be encouraged to examine literary works in relation to their ideological, cultural, and historical contexts (e.g. feudalism, war, the plague, Norman Conquest, etc.) and to socio-cultural and political debates (e.g. intersectionality, representation, reception). As this is a Level 4 module, space will be created for students to 'find their feet' and begin to move away from prescriptive 'A' Level requirements of study.

Alongside the study of topics in the early history of the language, students will also explore a range of Old and Middle English texts, including some Anglo-Saxon poetry, and examples of early and later Middle English prose and poetry. Careful attention will be given to establishing an appropriate balance between challenge and support in providing opportunities for students to read some texts and parts of texts in Old and Middle English. The emphasis will be on understanding how narrative themes develop and draw all the texts together. Drawing on the themes in the medieval texts, the students are encouraged to look at contemporary literature, media, film, etc - to understand the continuity and appropriation of specific narratives.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Students will be introduced to a range of medieval texts, and extracts from texts. Introductory sessions will present an overview of approaches students can choose to adopt in investigating these issues. A student led approach will introduce students to forms of assessment, beyond essays and exams. There will be two assessments, one mid-semester and one at the end of the semester. Core required reading to facilitate focused discussion will be supplemented by lists of recommended reading to enable students to pursue their own interests and students will be invited to seek out further primary and secondary material for themselves.

The first assessment will be a presentation assessment on the subject of chivalry and/or romance. Students can do individual presentations, group presentations, podcast, etc., utilising appropriate software, technology, etc. A transcript of the presentation will be submitted as well. These topics will be the focus of a summative group assessment using an assessment method appropriate to the topic (e.g. oral presentation, website, and podcasts). Later sessions will be focused around group-led research and preparation for the assessment, providing an opportunity for feedback in advance of the assessment.

For the final assessment the students will be requited to submit a written piece; this can be a traditional essay, a creative writing piece, a blog or a collaborative piece with other students. Workshops will be held in contact time to help students learn what is expected of them in written work at university level.

Seminars
Contact Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 180

Further details relating to assessment
Directed activities: these consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be completed successfully. A pass will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.

This is a student led module, so students are able to negotiate their own final assessment. The precise nature and form of the report can be negotiated with the lecturer. It should include coverage of the following aspects:

- how the chosen genre was deployed and perceived during the Medieval period (e.g. its development over time, its emergence or revival, its status in literary culture) and the reasons for this.
- the student's hypothesis about one aspect of the genre. This hypothesis will be formed over the course of the workshop sessions and is tested and discussed in directed activities.
- an analysis of the student’s chosen text in relation to their posited hypothesis. This must draw on a primary text of their choice and on secondary literature. Reference to other texts in the given genre will be expected.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Katie Lister
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S2

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