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LW2003: LITERATURE, HISTORY, THOUGHT 1848-9/11 (2014-2015)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

When revolutions swept Europe in 1848, how did poets like Baudelaire, thinkers like Marx and Nietzsche respond? When the atom bomb dropped on 6th of August, 1945 and the planes hit the twin towers on September 11, 2001, how did writers bear witness to these traumatic historical events? How do writers, whether poets, novelists or philosophers, respond to world-historical events and how do they continue to shape our understanding of them today? In exploring these questions, this course will examine how the works of great writers and thinkers from around the world make and remake the worlds we live in. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Adrienne Janus

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

None.

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

How does modern literature respond to world-historical events and shape our understanding of them? What role does literature play in modern intellectual and political history? This innovative introduction to modern literary thought explores these questions by focussing on the constellation of events, ideas and writings on six key dates: 1848, 1917, 1936, 1945, 1968 and 9/11/2001. Besides works of literature and film, the course studies various kinds of theoretical and polemical writing.

Further Information & Notes

This course can either be taken separately or in combination with LW 2502 Modes of Reading.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: continuous assessment (100%); two 2,000 word written assignments (45% each); tutorial assessment mark (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

Micro and macro student presentations.

Feedback

Feedback on reviews and essays will be in the form of written comments on work. Feedback on examination will be provided in line with university / College guidance. Additionally students will be invited to make appointments to discuss their work with their tutor. Feedback on presentations will be given in oral form during tutorial hours.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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