VIC7063 - Victorian Words: Texts and Contexts

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
demonstrate advanced knowledge and critical understanding of the work of a selected author or defined group of authors;
use a range of high-level critical and theoretical approaches to analyse the selected texts;
demonstrate an advanced understanding of the literary works chosen for study, including critical awareness of the extent to which these texts were shaped by the social and intellectual conditions of the Victorian world, and the extent to which these texts aimed to effect a reorganisation of that world;
demonstrate self-direction and critical independence in a sophisticated argument that includes close reading and analysis of a suitably wide range of literary texts for a 6,000-word essay, uses appropriate evidence/illustrations and engages with contextual and critical literature.

Content:

This module will engage students in gaining a deeper critical appreciation of Victorian literature by exploring the works of a particular author or group of authors. Students will hone their skills in critical analysis and close textual reading, and will also learn to place selected works within the social, cultural and literary contexts of the Victorian age. The module will pay particular attention to the local and wider social conditions in which the authors worked, and the impact of those conditions on their writing. It will also consider how particular social, political or intellectual preoccupations of the Victorian age were reflected in their writing. The authors on offer will draw on staff expertise and may include, for example: The Brontes, Oscar Wilde, Robert Browning or John Ruskin. The choice of authors each year will depend on staff availablity and also take student opinion into consideration wherever possible. Students will then develop their own interests by researching a topic of their own choice for the assignment for this module.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Students taking this module will take seminars for VIC 7025. In addition, they will undertake an individual research project, supervised in two individual tutorials of 30 minutes. This time may be used in a combination of different ways (e.g. face-to-face discussion, e-mail consultations) as appropriate to the individual student. As part of this supervision, students will be encouraged to submit a proposal and drafts for feedback before final submission.

Seminars / workshops
Contact Hours: 6 x 2 hours
Intended Group size: 12

Tutorials
Contact hours: 2 x 30 minutes per student
Intended Group size: 1

Guided independent study (Balancing figure)
Hours: 287

Assessment: