MENMD1CAE: Critical Approaches to English Literature
This module is only available to Single Honours students.
Credits: 20 credits
Course Director: Dr Peter Merchant
Providing a general foundation for studies in English literature, this module encourages in students an active engagement with the critical practices concerned with the reading of, and writing about, literary texts. The module is designed to introduce students to some of the key modern theoretical approaches to literature that have been developed since the 1970s and to initiate critical awareness and discretion about the use of appropriate conceptual frameworks.
The module will explore the use of various theoretical positions (structuralism; poststructuralism; psychoanalysis; cultural materialism; new historicism; gender; race and identity) for literary studies by way of application to a range of literary texts
Assessment:
The module is assessed by two equally weighted 1000-word essays. Taken together, these count for 40% of the total assessment for the module. The remaining 60% of the assessment takes the form of a two-hour closed-book examination.
Illustrative Texts:
The texts listed below indicate the range of literature that is typically covered on this module. Please note, however, that this list is illustrative only. The reading list for each given year will be made available on Blackboard for students registered on the module.
-
Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. 2nd ed. (Manchester UP, 2002);
-
Bennett, Andrew and Nicholas Royle. An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory. 3rd ed. (Prentice Hall, 2004);
-
Sanders, Andrew. The Short Oxford History of English Literature. 2nd ed. (Oxford UP, 2000).