CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module develops the study of nineteenth-century culture in a range of exciting directions to offer students new encounters with this rich period of literary and artistic history. The module revisits well-known works through new and unusual perspectives, as well as introducing students to lesser-known writers of the period. We situate the Victorians in global cultural contexts and explore how they responded to the challenges of their time. Topics including decadence and aesthetics, global connections, sustainability, adaptation and transmedia cultures, and creative partnerships, are informed by the research expertise of the Victoriographies research group who team-teach this module. The module will offer opportunities for students to present their research alongside peers and staff, and offers a choice of assessment formats in English literature and creative writing.

Module provider

Literature & Languages

Module Leader

MATHIESON Charlotte (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Exact module content may vary from year to year, but indicative Topics include:
¿ Literary tourism
¿ Nineteenth-century Britain and Europe
¿ Popular drama and transmedia cultures
¿ The Victorians and sustainability
¿ Death and memorialisation
¿ Pre-Raphaelitism
¿ Fin de siècle

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Alternative assessments can be devised in accordance with student need and reports from the Learning Support team.

Assessment Strategy

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

The 15 minute research presentation assesses subject knowledge, critical and analytical skills, independent research, and oral communication skills.

The 3000 word essay assesses subject knowledge relating to formal, contextual, critical, and theoretical approaches to the analysis of literary form and language, cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking, and professional/practical skills in communicating ideas in writing. The essay also assesses transferable skills, namely the ability to conduct research for written work in an organised and critical fashion and to develop and communicate imaginative and rigorous arguments in a sustained format.

Alternatively students can produce a creative portfolio (2400 words) plus critical commentary (600 words) responding to at least 1 of the texts on the module and related theories/concepts/contexts. The Creative Portfolio and commentary assess subject knowledge relating to formal, contextual, critical, and theoretical approaches to the analysis of literary form and language, cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking, critical and creative reflection upon and response to module themes, concepts and contexts, and professional/practical skills in communicating ideas in writing. The portfolio/commentary also assesses transferable skills, namely the ability to conduct research for written work in an organised and critical fashion and to develop and communicate imaginative and rigorous arguments in a sustained format.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
¿ 15 minute research presentation (25%)
¿ 3000 word essay OR creative portfolio (2400 words) plus critical commentary (600 words) (75%)

Formative assessment and feedback
Formative ¿feed forward¿ feedback is provided through seminar discussions, and tutor feedback in seminars. Seminar discussion with ongoing tutor feedback is designed to assess professional/practical skills in communicating ideas orally and transferable skills in working individually and as part of a group. It also assesses subject knowledge relating to formal, contextual, critical, and theoretical approaches to the study of 19th century literature. Seminars also assess cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking and in the analysis of literary form and language.

Other feedback mechanisms will be agreed between tutor and students in week 1 of the module.

Module aims

• broaden and deepen contextual knowledge of literature and culture in the 19th century
• develop advanced understanding of how literary texts respond to and inform contextual debates;
• Advance students¿ knowledge of a range of 19th century writers
• introduce relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks with which to engage with 19th century literary texts
• develop and strengthen skills in close reading and analysis of literary texts
• advance students¿ critical thinking and application of theoretical frameworks to literature
• improve oral and written communication skills
• strengthen students¿ ability to undertake independent research, including using digital and online materials for research

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. The delivery of the module through two-hour lecture-seminars places an emphasis on student-led learning to develop cognitive and analytical skills in analysing literature in its historical, socio-political and historical contexts, and enables students to develop skills in communicating and debating ideas. The module content is research-led and makes use of the Surreylearn platform to support and advance students¿ independent study through the integration of digital resources.
This relates to the programme learning and teaching strategy, which, at FHEQ Level 7, is designed to develop subject knowledge through extended two-hour seminars and to develop transferable, practical, and professional skills, with an emphasis on sophisticated student-led involvement, critical analysis, discussion, and rhetorical ability.
The learning and teaching methods include a combination of lecture materials, seminars, captured content, guided learning and independent learning. Students will be expected to engage with preparatory work, including reading set texts and additional critical/theoretical material; engaging with pre-seminar questions to guide and direct independent study. The lecture-seminars will build upon and develop students' independent study; these will feature a range of individual and group tasks aimed at enhancing students' skills in critical and analytical thinking and honing oral and written communication skills. Students will learn through close reading, independent research exercises, debate, and discussion. They will engage with a range of different cultural texts including novels, short stories, poems, and Victorian paintings and photographs, and will benefit from watching video clips and listening to podcasts.
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: ELIM061

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: Global and Cultural Capabilities Through the context of the nineteenth century, this module examines social and cultural issues of the period through study of literature and culture. It asks students to engage with a diverse range of writing by 19th century writers, including canonical and lesser known authors; requiring students to move beyond the canon and to consider, understand, and synthesise differing views from a range of nineteenth-century literature and culture. Employability The learning, teaching, and assessment strategy for this module is designed to advance students' skills in areas that appeal to employers, such as conducting self-directed research under time constraints; the development of critical thinking and analytical skills; the ability to evaluate and employ key critical and theoretical perspectives; and the communication of complex ideas, as well as the construction of effective arguments in both oral and written forms. Digital Capabilities This module enables students to develop their digital skillset in a number of ways. In addition to using the university's virtual learning platform to access online course materials, captured content, and to submit coursework, students are actively encouraged to engage with other digital learning materials including multi-media resources such as online archives, scholarly websites, documentaries, and podcasts. The assessments require students to undertake independent research, sourcing relevant critical and theoretical materials from the university library's online catalogue, as well as digital journal databases such as JSTOR.

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.