ENG144 Literature, Culture and Society before 1900
Higher Education Entrance Qualification
This course provides an introduction to English literature, culture and society before 1900. The majority of texts and topics will be taken from Britain and America, but other parts of the world will also be represented. The course is divided into thematic units which address common topics from literary, cultural, historical, political and social perspectives. Students will concentrate on explicating literary texts and exploring historical, social, and political issues. A range of literary genres will be represented and students will also be introduced to the standard terms and techniques of literary and cultural analysis. A central concern of the course will be with the ways in which new ideas and worldviews influence literature and art, and vice versa, in the period before 1900.
In accordance with the national qualification framework, the student has achieved the following learning outcomes after completing the course:
After completing the course, the student will possess knowledge about:
- aspects of the history and society of the UK, US and other English-speaking countries before 1900
- some of the interplay between social history, literature, art and culture during this period
- formal and thematic characteristics of literary genres and historical, social and cultural trends before 1900
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
- analyse and interpret older literary texts in English, using standard methods of literary criticism
- evaluate and interpret the significance of some political and historical events in English-speaking countries before 1900
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
- find and use reliable source materials
- write persuasively and effectively in academic English
- use the knowledge and skills accquired with some degree of independence, rflection and critical thinking
Teaching takes the form of lectures, discussions, group work and individual study. Attendance is compulsory for all scheduled classes. 75% attendance through the semester is required to sit for the exam.
Each student is required to submit two essays that must be approved if the student is to be permitted to sit the final exams. One of these will be a close reading of a literary text of c.1000 words; the other will be an essay of c.2000 words about a cultural and/or literary topic. The close reading will be assessed by peer-review and so it is a course requirement that each student participate in commenting on fellow students' essays. For the longer essay, each student will receive detailed feedback from an instructor, provided that the essay is submitted within the deadlines posted at the start of the semester. If an essay is not accepted at first submission, the student has the right to submit a new version.
There is also an obligatory two-week stay at The Norwegian Study Centre in York, England. Students who apply for, and are granted, an exemption from this obligatory course component must instead give an oral presentation on a topic decided by one of the course tutors.
Sensur blir gjennomført i samsvar med Forskrift om opptak, studium og eksamen ved Høgskulen i Volda.
The course will be evaluated in accordance with the University College’s routines for quality assurance.
- Bachelor in Religious Studies and Languages
- English - Year Course
- Language and Literature - bachelor
| Assessment Form | Grouping | Duration | Grading scale | Proportion | Comment | Support Materials | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital examination | Individual | 2 Hours | A-F, A is the best grade and E is the lowest passing grade | 1/3 | |||
Home exam | Individual | 7 Days | A-F, A is the best grade and E is the lowest passing grade | 2/3 |