MAGIC, MYSTICISM, AND MODERNITY - 2025/6

Module Overview

Although the early twentieth century is often described as one of newness and modernity, many writers of the time found inspiration and visionary brilliance by turning to the mysterious occult unknown.  Well-remembered poets and novelists such as Ezra Pound, W.B. Yeats, H.D., Mary Butts, and Charles Williams were tied to esoteric beliefs, but was it all a lot of foolishness? In this module we will explore how the modernist interest in magic and mysticism led to new understandings of the relationship between ¿the self¿ and ¿society¿ that would seep into sectors as diverse as psychoanalysis, politics, and theatre.  By exploring the mystical beliefs and practices that stirred many writers between the wars this module will allow us to reconsider our understanding of the imagination and unconscious mind in relation to writing and the performing arts.  Along the way we will uncover hidden hopes and anxieties that faced Britain between the wars and see how some of modernism¿s most influential writers understood magic and enchantment as universal forms of cultural expression which have inspired creative exuberance since the dawn of civilisation.This module builds on key themes and methods introduced in modules in your first and second year, including Literary Histories, Modernism, and The American Century, deepening your theoretical, historical, and critical understanding of modernist innovation and its complex entanglements with modernity and social and aesthetic transformation. This module extends those foundations by focusing on the modernist fascination with magic and mysticism, encouraging you to think critically about how esoteric and occult beliefs shaped new models of selfhood, creative expression, and social engagement. Through this lens, you will develop a more nuanced understanding of modernism¿s response to the uncertainties of modernity, tracing how the mystical imagination intersected with psychoanalysis, political theory, and literary production.

Module provider

Literature & Languages

Module Leader

KILNER-JOHNSON Allan (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• The late-Victorian occult revival and its influence on early twentieth-century literature and culture.
• The emergence of alternative spiritualities, including Theosophy, ceremonial magic, and nature-based practices.
• The relationship between first-wave feminism and occult movements, examining how spiritual and mystical frameworks intersected with changing gender roles.
• The influence of psychoanalysis and theories of the unconscious on mystical and occult writing.
• The role of periodical publication in shaping and disseminating esoteric and modernist ideas.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the module learning outcomes and to support the development of advanced research skills.Seminar discussion with ongoing tutor feedback is designed to support and develop transferable skills in working as part of a group and practical/professional skills in expressing ideas and critical analysis in oral communication. It also assesses subject knowledge by encouraging students to engage with different forms of critical theory and cognitive/analytical skills in applying theory to the close reading of literary texts.The assessment includes a formative essay plan, which supports the development of research management skills by encouraging you to plan and organise your effectively before writing the full essay with feedback to help clarify your argument, structure your analysis, and identify key sources, fostering independent research skills and effective time management.The essay assesses subject knowledge in modernist literature and cognitive/analytical skills in applying critical theory to the close reading of texts. They also assess practical/professional skills in written communication, encouraging you to articulate your ideas with precision and depth, and transferable skills in working independently and managing research projects.Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Essay (3000 words)

• Essay Plan (750 words) 

Module aims

• Deepen and expand understanding of a range of modernist texts and their engagement with esoteric and mystical thought.
• Explore key historical and philosophical expressions of occultism and mysticism in the early twentieth century.
• Examine the shaping of modern cultural identity alongside the resurgence of popular occultism, considering how mystical ideas influenced psychoanalysis, politics, and the performing arts.
  Develop advanced skills in close reading, analysis, and critical thinking.
• Strengthen oral and written communication through seminar discussions and written assignments.
  Enhance independent research and collaborative skills in group work.
• Improve time management and project management through structured planning of essays and revision.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to deliver subject knowledge, develop cognitive and analytical skills, and strengthen transferable, practical, and professional competencies.Weekly two-hour sessions will integrate a lecture element and a seminar element to create a cohesive and dynamic learning environment. The lecture component will provide a structured overview of key concepts situating primary texts within their historical and intellectual contexts. This portion of each seminar will introduce you to critical debates and theoretical frameworks, encouraging you to reflect on how modernist writers responded to the cultural and social tensions of modernity through mystical and occult themes.The seminar element will build directly on the lecture material, inviting you to engage critically and collaboratively with key themes and concepts. You will participate in guided close readings, group discussions, and debates that deepen your understanding of the texts and their broader cultural and historical significance, developing your ability to articulate ideas clearly and support your arguments through evidence-based reasoning.Additional support will be provided through one-to-one tutorials and feedback sessions, where you can refine your analytical approaches and address specific challenges in your learning process. The module will also offer guidance on research methods, planning and implementing timetables for coursework, and developing effective revision strategies. This integrated approach will encourage independent thinking and enhance both analytical depth and critical communication skills.The learning and teaching methods include:

• 2-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: ELI3079

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: This module will strengthen your ability to conduct independent research and to evaluate complex ideas critically and dispassionately - skills that are increasingly valuable in a range of professional settings. Through close reading, analysis, and engagement with secondary criticism, you will develop the ability to identify key arguments, assess the strength of evidence, and draw nuanced conclusions based on textual and contextual analysis. The module will also enhance your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively in both written and oral formats, supporting the development of persuasive argumentation and analytical clarity. Group discussions and seminar contributions will foster collaborative skills and the ability to engage respectfully with differing perspectives. These skills - critical thinking, effective communication, problem-solving, and collaborative engagement - are highly transferable and will support success in a range of professional contexts, including academia, publishing, communications, and the creative industries.

Digital Capabilities: You will develop advanced digital research skills using key academic databases and online resources to locate, assess, and synthesise primary and secondary material. The module will encourage you to navigate complex research environments, refine search strategies, and critically evaluate sources for credibility and relevance. This will enhance your ability to conduct independent research in a digitally connected world and will equip you with the tools to analyse and interpret large bodies of information effectively. In particular, you will engage with digitised periodicals, archival materials, and contemporary critical databases, developing both technical proficiency and the ability to use digital resources creatively to support original and evidence-based analysis.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: By examining modernist texts within a global framework, this module will develop your awareness of the cultural shifts and cross-cultural exchanges that shaped literary modernism between the early twentieth century and the onset of World War II. You will explore how writers from different cultural and national contexts engaged with shared themes of mysticism, enchantment, and modernity, and how these texts reflect broader historical and political tensions. The module will encourage you to consider the role of colonialism, migration, and transnational networks in shaping modernist aesthetics and to engage critically with questions of cultural identity and artistic influence. This will deepen your understanding of the interconnections between literary production and wider cultural and political developments, fostering a sophisticated understanding of modernism as a global phenomenon.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module will cultivate your ability to work independently and manage complex research projects with confidence. The formative essay outline will provide structured support in planning, organising, and refining your ideas, encouraging you to approach the research and writing process with strategic focus and flexibility. By engaging with challenging texts and theoretical frameworks, you will develop intellectual resilience and the capacity to navigate ambiguity and complexity. The module will strengthen your ability to respond constructively to feedback, refine your critical approach, and articulate your arguments with confidence. These skills will support not only your academic progress but also your ability to adapt to new challenges in professional and personal contexts.
 

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 2025/6 academic year.