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

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

ENG-20104 - Revolutions in Thought: Medieval Pioneers to Romantic Rebels
Coordinator: Rachel Adcock Tel: +44 1782 7 33144
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

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.: 1,2
Demonstrate effective research skills and the ability to create a clear, persuasive argument.: 2
Demonstrate skills in writing for different audiences and in different formats.: 1,2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours:
22 hours interactive lectures
22 hours seminars
4 hours asynchronous discussion
2 hours assessment preparation consultation
Independent Study Hours
200 hours reading, research and class preparation
50 hours assessment preparation for final assignment (preparation for class tests is part of 200 hours class preparation).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Class Test weighted 30%
Class writing tests
Students will be marked on the best 2 out of 3 class writing tests (20 minutes/test). Each test will be completed after the 3-week subunit it relates to. Tests will be equivalent to 750-1000 words and will comprise multiple choice questions, analysis of short passages, and scholarly editing - all the skills students will need to complete the final assessment successfully. There will be a catch-up test available at the end of the module for absentees. Adjustments will be available.

2: Options weighted 70%
Essay or Critical Edition
Students have a choice of assessment. They can write an essay or produce a critical edition of a text (2,500 words or equivalent). They will choose essay questions from a list or a text to edit from a collection made available to them.

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: 16 September 2026