ENG4122 - Literary History: From Beowulf to Chaucer

Objectives:

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

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of medieval and medievalist texts.

Interpret medieval and medievalist texts using appropriate critical and theoretical practices.

Demonstrate an understanding of a range of cultural, political and social contexts that shape the production and reception of literary texts.

Communicate effectively in group and individual formats and for academic and non-academic audiences.

Content:

In this core 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. This module will introduce students to key texts and contexts of medieval period, but also the way in which literary history in general is conducted.

The study of texts is the particular focus of the core module, ENG 4562 Reading Literature: Prose and Poetry. As the first literary history module on the programme special attention is given in ENG 4122 Literary History: From Beowulf to Chaucer to introducing the key elements and methods required for the study of literary history - the study of texts in relation to their contexts.

In the first part, the varied nature of contexts will be explained: historical events (a range, such as from biographical to regional, from man-made events like war and rebellion, to natural events like plague); ideologies and cultural beliefs and practices. Consideration will also be given to the relative benefits of seeing texts in the context of their own times (historicism); seeing them in relation to more long-term socio-cultural and political debates (e.g. adaptation, representation, reception); or the creative anachronism of medievalism within popular culture, such as film, graphic novels, TV, &c.

In the second part, support will be offered to students both in understanding the diverse approaches to doing literary history that can be found in secondary critical studies and also in allowing students to make and justify their own choices. Additionally, students will be encouraged to explore the range of presentation options for reporting on their findings and the different purposes and requirements that exist for presentations, short-films, essays, and reports.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will introduce students to student-led learning and teaching. Students will be introduced to a range of medieval texts, and extracts from texts and pre-set core required reading to facilitate focused discussion will be supplemented by lists of recommended reading to enable students to pursue their own interests. Students will be invited to seek out further primary and secondary material for themselves.

As noted in the content section, the module is structured to introduce students serially, to key issues, such as primary reading; diverse theory and practice in literary history, and engagement with secondary criticism. Each aspect will be addressed through 'directed activities'.

As also noted in the content section the issue of reporting back on knowledge and insights required will be addressed.

Workshops
Hours: 30
Intended Group Size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 170
Assessment 1 - 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.

Assessment 2 - Group project: the project tests the students' proficiency in relating medieval texts to various types of context (such as: biographical, social, ecological, and historical). This proficiency will serve as the basis for subsequent modules in literary history. The nature and format depends upon which project is chosen by the group.

Assessment 3 - Report: this assessment tests each student's ability to present research findings clearly and effectively. The assessment is designed to demonstrate the range of options available for negotiated assessments and to explain their appropriate methods, techniques and standards.

Assessment:

001 Directed Activities throughout Semester One 10%
002 Group Presentation; 10-15mins; End of Semester One 35%
003 Report; 2,000 word equivalent; End of Semester Two 55%

Fact File

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

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