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ENG-20104 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

ENG-20104 - Revolutions in Thought: Medieval Pioneers to Romantic Rebels
Coordinator: Jonathon Shears Tel: +44 1782 7 33014
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2026/27

The 1500s to the 1830s was a period of rapid historical change, including shifts in cultural norms, new debates about gender, class, empire, and race, and the questioning of traditional religious beliefs. You will explore how English poetry, drama, and fiction responded to these transformations, and develop your understanding of how texts relate to their wider social and cultural contexts. You will acquire the advanced critical skills you will need to draw on in the final year of your degree.

Aims
To introduce students to a range of literature from the 1500s to 1830s.
To impart students with knowledge of the historical contexts and intellectual trends of the early modern period.
To develop students' ability to apply critical and theoretical perspectives to literature of the early modern period.
To develop students' ability to produce clear and persuasive arguments
To develop students' skills in writing for different audiences and in different formats.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Engage in close analysis of literature in a variety of forms (drama, poetry, etc.) from the period 1500-1830.: 1,2
Demonstrate an understanding of how literature 1500-1830 relates to its wider historical contexts.: 1,2
Analyse early modern literature from a range of critical and theoretical perspectives.: 2
Demonstrate effective research skills and the ability to create a clear, persuasive argument.: 2
Develop skills in writing for different audiences and in different formats.: 1,2

Study hours

22 hours interactive lectures
22 hours seminars
4 hours asynchronous discussion
2 hours assessment preparation consultation
200 hours reading, research and class preparation
50 hours assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Class Test weighted 30%
Class writing tests
Students will be marked on the best 4 out of 6 class writing tasks on weekly set reading (c. 500 words per task)

2: Assignment weighted 70%
An Essay, Critical Edition or Sway Presentation
Students have a choice of assessment. They can write an essay, produce a critical edition of a text, or produce a presentation for a public audience using Microsoft Sway. (2,500 words or equivalent)

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026