School of Humanities  
 
 
ENG-20041 Aspects of the Novel 1740-1930  
Co-ordinator: Prof Scott McCracken    Room: N/A, Tel:34145  
Teaching Team: Mrs Tracey  Lea, Prof David Amigoni, Dr Nicholas Bentley, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Dr Nicholas  Seager, Dr Jonathon  Shears,  Matthew  Steggle, Mrs Marianne  Corrigan  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
American Studies Dual Honours (Level 2)
American Studies Minor (Level 2)
American Studies Single Honours (Level 2)
English and American Literatures Single Honours (Level 2)
English Dual Honours (Level 2)
English Major (Level 2)
English Minor (Level 2)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Barred Combinations
None
Prerequisites
None
Description

'Aspects of the Novel 1740-1930' is particularly appropriate for those students taking English or English and American Literatures, but can be taken by all students who have an interest in and enjoy reading novels. Students who enjoyed Telling Tales at Level 1 will find this module builds on their existing knowledge and takes them further in the study of the novel. Students who did not take Telling Tales are very welcome, but might need to spend a little more time preparing (i.e. reading the novels) before the module starts, to leave time to absorb some of the critical concepts the module discusses.

The module looks at a key period in the development of the English novel, between 1740 and 1930. Five novels have been chosen- Samuel Richardon's Pamela (Vol 1), Maria Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent, Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now, Arnold Bennett's Anna of the Five Towns, and Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage (Vol. 2). Each novel is exemplary of a certain moment in the novel's development as a genre. In order to analyse these developments, the module introduces some of the key theories of the novel as presented by historical, Marxist, feminist, formalist, and poststructuralist criticism. Theories of the novel will be introduced in the form of exemplary essays, which will be made available on WebCT, and then contextualised and explained in dedicated lectures which use the set novels as examples.

The module is taught through one lecture and one tutorial per week. It is assessed by one short essay (1500 words, 20% of the overall assessment) and one longer essay (2500 words, 80% of the overall assessment).
Aims
To introduce students to the history and theory of the novel.

To introduce the novel as a complex literary genre that has played a key role in the culture of modernity.

To introduce students to some of key theories of the novel, exploring concepts such as realism, historical criticism, Marxist criticism, feminist criticism and key theorists of the novel such as Georg Lukács, Nancy Armstrong, the Bakhtin School, Roland Barthes.

To develop students' essay writing skills on complex or long pieces of narrative prose.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Discuss in some detail the debates which surround theories of the novel. will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
Offer close analysis of parts of novels and whole novels and be able to make comparisons between novels. will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
Explain and discuss a particular theory of the novel in relation to relevant examples of the genre. will be achieved by assessments: 2
Accurately reference an essay and write a bibliography according to the conventions in the English Undergraduate Handbook. will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
Reflect critically on the historical, intellectual, and rhetorical contexts that inform the contexts for critical as well as literary sources. will be achieved by assessments: 2
Write at length on complex literary texts. will be achieved by assessments: 2
Study hours
12 hours of lectures
12 hours of tutorials
56 hours of reading and tutorial preparation
50 hours of essay research and writing
20 hours short essay preparation.
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay weighted 30%
A short essay of 1500 words
Students are required to write a short essay on a chapter of a novel which analyses an element of its novelistic form.
02: Essay weighted 70%
2500 word essay
Students will choose one question from a list of seven essay questions. Each question will ask them to write an answer informed by relevant theories of the novel, which uses two or more of the set texts as examples.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.