School of Humanities  
 
 
ENG-30061 Sex, Scandal and Society: Eighteenth-Century Writing  
Co-ordinator: Dr Nicholas Seager   Tel:33142  
Teaching Team: Mrs Tracey  Lea, Mrs Amanda  Porritt, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
English and American Literatures Single Honours (Level 3)
English Dual Honours (Level 3)
English Major (Level 3)
English Minor (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
None
Prerequisites
Successful completion of one of the following: ENG-10026 Reading Literature ENG-10027 Becoming a Critic ENG-10022 Poetry through Practice ENG-10028 Telling Tales: An Introduction to Narrative Fiction AMS-10025 Starting Out: an Introduction to American Literature ENG-10023 Fiction through Practice ENG-10029 Playing Parts: Studying Drama and Poetry AMS-10023 The Unreliable Truth: Studies in 2oth century English &American Literature AMS-10027 Transatlantic Gothic: Studies in 19th century English &American Literature ENG-20035 Gothic Fictions ENG-20033 Romanticisms ENG-20037 Elizabeth I: Fiction, Fact and Fantasy ENG-20036 20th century Novels into Films ENG-20038 Post-war British Fiction and Poetry ENG-20039 Satire ENG-20040 The Age of Shakespeare and Donne ENG-20032 The Drawn Sword: Literature and the English Civil War ENG-20034 Victorian Performances

Description

The eighteenth century saw the emergence of the English novel, the rapid rise of the periodical press, and the professionalisation of imaginative writing, as well as an upsurge in comedies of social manners on the stage, a healthy flow of erotic and pornographic texts, and poetry whose sexual and satiric energy is barely curbed by social decorum and convention. In short, men and women of letters were interested in society in fascinating new ways that were the result of the exponential growth of London, the financial revolution that helped erode old social hierarchies, changes in sexual relations and constructions of gender, celebrity culture, and the rise of personality-based politics. Perhaps it is not too much to say that our own society is the heir to changes that happened in the age of the four Georges (1714-1830), and this module is an opportunity to study the fiction, drama, poetry, and visual culture of this period. Authors studied may include: Daniel Defoe, Eliza Haywood, John Cleland, William Hogarth, William Congreve, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and Jane Austen.
Aims
to introduce students to a range of writings from the period 1700-1820;

to develop students' skills in analysing literary texts;

to equip students with the skills to critically appraise contextual and theoretical techniques
Intended Learning Outcomes
appraise and critique drama, fiction, poetry, and visual texts from the period 1700-1820 in light of its cultural contexts will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3
engage in close analysis of texts and communicate this in extended written form will be achieved by assessments: 3
engage in close analysis of texts and communicate this in concise spoken form will be achieved by assessments: 1
utilise and analyse critical approaches, and articulate this in written work will be achieved by assessments: 2, 3
apply relevant theoretical methodologies and evaluate their usefulness will be achieved by assessments: 2, 3
carry out independent research, assimilate and synthesise research and present this in written form will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
devise, develop, construct, and sustain an argument in written work will be achieved by assessments: 3
compare texts from different periods and a variety of media within the eighteenth century will be achieved by assessments: 3
Study hours
24: tutorials
56: reading and tutorial preparation
5: oral presentation preparation
15: short paper researching and writing
50: essay researching and writing
Description of Module Assessment
01: Oral Presentation (must pass this element)
10 minute oral presentation
Each student will do a tutorial presentation on that week's set reading.
02: Short Paper weighted 30%
1,200 word short paper
A critical review of a scholarly article.
03: Essay weighted 70%
3,000 word essay
A researched essay, selected from a list of 8-10 topics.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 02/Oct/2013

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