ENG-20050 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The 16th and early 17th centuries are a key period in the development of English literature. This was the age of Shakespeare, and during this time he and his contemporaries produced some of the most interesting and exciting plays ever written. It was an age of lyric poetry, with the development of the English sonnet, and the astonishing, challenging works produced by writers like John Donne and Mary Wroth. It was also a time of great historical change, with important debates going on about the nature of religion, the status of women, and the new developments in science. In this module, we will study a wide range of texts from this period, from tragedies to the speeches of Queen Elizabeth I to romantic and religious poetry. We will explore themes such as gender, sexuality, social criticism, religious faith and family relationships. We will also learn about early modern book publishing and the modern editing process, and you will have the option to create your own mini-edition of some early modern texts as one of your assignments.
Besides giving you some familiarity with a specific period in English literary history, this module will also help develop skills appropriate to the study of literature more generally. These skills include textual analysis, constructing cogent arguments supported by evidence, the capacity to recognise culturally and historically different perspectives, and the ability to reflect critically on those perspectives.
Suggested introductory reading:
Susan Bruce and Rebecca Steinberger, eds., The Renaissance Literature Handbook (London: Continuum, 2009)
Michael Hattaway, Renaissance and Reformations: An Introduction to Early Modern English Literature (Oxford: Blackwell, 2005)
Jason Scott-Warren, Early Modern English Literature (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005)

To give students a grounding in the literature and context of one of the most important periods in English Literature.
To develop students' abilities in reading, analysing and coming to informed judgement about major, complex works of poetry, prose and drama.
To give students an insight into how publishing worked in the early modern period, and allow them the chance to engage practically with the modern editing process.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate a sophisticated grasp of the close reading of complex literature: 1,2
identify and critically discuss key features of early modern literature with regards to themes, genre, gender and politics: 2
1,2
competently research, organise, reference and present their ideas in written form: 2
display an understanding of the connections between literature and its social, cultural, intellectual and historical contexts:

Study hours

12 x 1 hour lectures (12 hours)
12 x 1 hour seminars (12 hours)
12 x 1 hour workshop (12 hours)
Reading and class preparation (74 hours)
Short paper assignment writing (10 hours)
Final essay or edition preparation and writing (30 hours)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment