ENG5132 - Roots of Stories

Objectives:

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

Identify enduring elements of plot, characterisation, and theme in a range of texts from the Western tradition.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ways in which modern and contemporary culture appropriate and adapt literary and cultural traditions.
Critically reflect on the appropriation and adaptation of traditional stories and characters in relation to relevant historical and cultural contexts.
Communicate ideas and research findings clearly using appropriate presentational techniques and technologies.

Content:

This module explores English literature and cultures through analysis of the ongoing influence of traditional story elements, such as plot, characterisation, and theme. The main sources of such influence are biblical, classical, and folk whose influences are part of the general Western tradition of literary culture. These influences can be either conscious (reference; allusion; adaptation; prequels and sequels, or fan-fiction) or unconscious (fundamental structures of plot and character, or archetypal characters and themes).

Students will study both the form and content of a selection of texts and films that have appropriated or adapted traditional stories. In doing so, students will also reflect upon a range of relevant topics such as, the question of archetypes in plot and character; the nature of adaptation and appropriation; the function of cultural allusion and metanarratives, and the relation of traditional stories to modern disciplines such as psychology and philosophy.

Students may choose to write on the uses of traditional stories and forms in texts and/or films of their choice. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to reflect upon the appropriation of traditional stories either through critical analysis; through writing their own creative versions of traditional stories; or through experiment with traditional forms.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Seminars will combine tutor input with structured learning activities and discussion based on guided independent study. Materials and resources will be made available via Moodle (the VLE).

Typically, students will be encouraged to create links between a suggested set of 'traditional source' texts and more recent material that draws upon these 'source' texts. The connections between some source texts and modern counterparts will be demonstrated at the start of the module. Central to these demonstrations will be the practice of close analysis and the appropriate application of relevant concepts and theories to the interpretation of the relation between texts. Students will be guided and supported in developing the analysis of the way texts can interrelate and the range of texts to be included in their own study of such connections.

Seminars/workshops
Hours: 32
Intended Group Size: 25

Guided independent study
Hours: 168

Assessment 1 - Report: the report tests the ability to apply appropriate knowledge and theoretical understanding to close readings of selected passages from the main texts used in the module to demonstrate the issues and themes.
Assessment 2 - Essay or Creative Writing: students may elect to reflect on selected stories or story elements either through a critical essay or through original creative work that engages with the selected story.

Assessment:

001 Report; 2,000 words; End of Semester One 50%
002 Essay or Creative Writing; 2,000 words; End of Semester One 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Amina Alyal
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5S1

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