Convenor: Dr Cathia Jenainati (H512)

Overview

This module offers an introduction to the practices of criticism. Form, genre and literary inheritance will be among the topics addressed. The module aims to enable students to work with a variety of critical approaches, and to develop an informed awareness of the possibilities available to them as readers and critics. Thematically organised lectures provide a frame of cultural reference on which the students will draw in their close readings in seminars. The module is taught in four units. In 2011-12, the units are: (1) Theorising the self and others around 1969; (2) Shocks and Sympathies; (3) Nation, Culture, Place ; (4) The Angel of History.

Syllabus

• Angela Carter, The Magic Toyshop
• Allen Ginsberg, Howl 
• Sam Selvon, The Lonely Londoners 
• Hanif Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia

Assessment

The module is offered to first year undergraduates, Erasmus Mundus and exchange students as well as some honours level students. Details of the various assessment patterns can be found on this webpage

Teaching times

• MAIN LECTURE: Thursdays, 10-11 am in ACCR (Arts Centre Conference Room)
• SEMINARS: check your individual timetable

Textbooks

In addition to the primary texts listed above, students are required to purchase the following:

• David Lodge and Nigel Wood's Modern Criticism and Theory: A Reader (3rd edition) [ISBN: 9780582784543] AND
• J.A. Cuddon (ed.) Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory revised by C.E.Preston [ISBN: 9780140513639]

These texts are available from the university bookshop at a special discounted price.

There will be an additional lecture on Monday March 12 (week 10) in IMC 0.02 at 11:00-12:30. The lecture is optional. It will NOT be podcast but I will make summary notes available online. The purpose of this lecture is to offer you some guidance on how to use the theoretical perspectives we've learned this year to develop interesting thesis statements and support your argument.

Allen Ginsberg N.Y. 1966