EARLY MODERN LITERATURE - 2021/2

Module Overview

This optional module develops knowledge and skills introduced at Level 4 and gives students a wider and deeper understanding of key material from the Early Modern period of literature in English. There are two key points of continuation from Level 4: first, a sense of historical contextualisation that focuses on important political and intellectual contexts; and second, a generic pathway that covers drama, poetry, and prose.The module also ensures that students have a solid basis for understanding English literature of the Early Modern period. This knowledge will be extended and deepened through optional modules at Levels 5 and 6.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

WYNNE-DAVIES Marion (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 49

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.  

Module content

Indicative content includes:





Week


Topic


Set Reading




1


Introduction


Discussion of Module Teaching, Learning and Assessment




Gender




2


William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew


The Taming of the Shrew




3


Elizabeth Cary, The Tragedy of Mariam


The Tragedy of Mariam




4


Mary Wroth, Pamphilia to Amphilanthus and William Shakespeare, The Sonnets

 


Pamphilia to Amphilanthus

The Sonnets

Selected sonnets from both Wroth and Shakespeare are noted in the Week 4 folder

Extract from Mary Wroth’s prose romance, The Countess of Montgomery’s Urania




Race




5


William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing


Much Ado About Nothing




6


William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice


The Merchant of Venice




7


Ben Jonson, The Masque of Blackness


The Masque of Blackness




Faith




8

 


Aemilia Lanyer, Salve Deus


Salve Deus




9


John Donne, Holy Sonnets


Holy Sonnets

Sermon Easter Day 1626 (prose)




10


Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine Part 1


Tamburlaine Part 1

Letters between Elizabeth I and Murad III and his wife, Walide Safiya (prose)




11


Revision and Conclusion


N/A




 


 


 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the module learning outcomes.

 

Seminar discussion with ongoing tutor feedback is designed mainly to assess transferable skills in communicating ideas orally and in working individually and in a group. It also assesses subject knowledge in Early Modern literature and ideas of identity as well as theoretical/critical methodologies, and cognitive/analytical skills in using critical material and theoretical concepts in relation to close textual analysis and critical thinking.

 

Both the essay and the Close Reading Exercise assess subject knowledge in Early Modern literature and ideas of identity as well as theoretical/critical methodologies; cognitive/analytical skills in in using critical material and theoretical concepts in relation to close textual analysis and critical thinking; transferable skills in communicating ideas in written form, and in planning and implementing timetables for essay deadlines and exam revision. 

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

500 word Close Reading Exercise (20%)

2000 word essay (80%)

• 
  Seminar discussion with ongoing tutor feedback in seminar
  

Module aims

• The module aims to deepen and expand students¿ understanding of:
• English Literature of the Early Modern period;
• the conventions of literary genres in this period;
• the theoretical and critical methodologies that underpin the study of Early Modern literature;
• key writings and themes in English literature of the Early Modern period;
• individual authors¿ writing;
• the development of literary, cultural, and social ideas about the self and identity
• The module aims to develop and strengthen students¿ skills in:
• close reading, analysis, and critical thinking;
• oral and written communication;
• independent work (including research) and group work in seminars;
• time management through essay planning and submission.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to deliver subject knowledge, to develop cognitive/analytical skills, and to develop in-depth transferable, practical and professional skills. Specifically, the weekly lectures deliver subject knowledge related to literature and ideas of identity in the Early Modern period and to develop cognitive/analytical skills in using critical material and theoretical concepts in relation to close textual analysis and critical thinking. The weekly seminars offer student-led discussions that develop skills in communication and in working individually and as a group. The seminars also provide students with instruction on planning and implementing timetables, on conducting research in an organised and critical fashion, and on presenting ideas coherently under time constraint.

 

This relates to the programme learning and teaching strategy, which, at FHEQ Level 5, is designed to continue the delivery of subject knowledge through lectures and SurreyLearn and to develop in-depth transferable, practical and professional skills, with a greater emphasis on student-led involvement, critical analysis, discussion and rhetorical ability.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

 

• 
  1-hour lecture per week x 11 weeks
  


• 
  1-hour seminar per week x 11 weeks
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ELI2039

Other information

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.