Module Identifier
EN20120
Module Title
READING THEORY/READING TEXT 1
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Richard J Marggraf-Turley
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
EN10420
Pre-Requisite
EN10320
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 10 Hours. 10 x 1 hour Seminars
Lecture 20 Hours. 20 x 1 hour lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Coursework Portfolio submission of 4800-6000 words, to be submitted in 4 x 1200-1500 word parts. Each part to be equally weighted and marked out of 100. Mark for overall portfolio to be the average of the marks for all 4 parts  100%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmit or resit failed elements and/or make good any missing elements 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should typically be able to:

1. summarise and explain some of the basic concepts and key ideas underpinning a range of theoretical approaches;

2. distinguish between different theoretical approaches;

3. describe the impact of particular theoretical approaches on the practice of literary criticism;

4. employ elements of particular theoretical approaches in the critical analysis of passages from literary texts.

Aims

This module aims:

1. to introduce students to some of the major theoretical formations in literary theory of the twentieth century;

2. to acquaint students with the work of a range of important literary theorists;

3. to investigate how different theories interrelate and confront one another;

4. to prepare students for the applied theory module EN30920 Reading Theory/Reading Text 2.

Brief description

This module aims to build on work introduced in EN10320 The Study of English. It seeks to introduce students to some of the major theoretical formations in literary theory of the twentieth century; to acquaint students with the work of a range of important literary theorists; and to investigate how different theories interrelate and confront one another. It also aims to prepare students for the applied theory module EN30920 Reading Theory/Reading Text 2.

Content

_Lecture Topics

_1. Why theory? Saussure and Semiotics

_2. Structuralism, Barthes and Narratology

_3. Materialist Criticism, Marxism and Ideology

_4. Freud and Lacan

_5. Feminism

_6. Masculinity

_7. Poststructuralism, Derrida and Deconstruction

_8. Postcolonialism, Nation and Ethnicity

_9. Landscape and Literature

_10. Art, Digital Reproduction and Cybercommunities


_Lectures and Seminars

There will be two lectures per week. Lectures offering explanations of theoretical ideas will be interlaced with lectures which seek to discuss theories in a cross-perspectival fashion. One seminar per week will provide the opportunity for more detailed exploration of lecture topics


Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Part of the portfolio assessment may require students to write for a specified audience or situation
Improving own Learning and Performance The portfolio is a composite piece, and in itself encourages a self-reflective approach to learning; in addition, the first section receives feedback aimed at encouraging this learning process
Information Technology Sections of the portfolio may be presented in on-line format. PowerPoint or web-page presentations will be accepted for specified sections of the portfolio. There are rich on-line resources for the study of literary theory and students will be encouraged to make use of these via the VLE platform
Personal Development and Career planning The emphasis on presentation skills and practical applications will help to foster marketable skills
Problem solving Completing the portfolio requires students to convert broad areas of theoretical knowledge into succinct and specific applications
Research skills Comparing different bodies of theory and identifying relevant strengths and weaknesses is required for the portfolio
Subject Specific Skills Reading literature using the `counter-intuitive? perspectives provided by literary theory
Team work Students will frequently work in sub-groups for seminars, preparing brief joint presentations of issues or problems in theory.

Reading List

General Text
Barry, Peter (2002.) Beginning theory :an introduction to literary and cultural theory /Peter Barry. 2nd ed. Manchester University Press Primo search Should Be Purchased
Rivkin, Julie (June 2004) Literary Theory:An Anthology 2nd ed.,Revised Wiley-Blackwell Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5