Module Code and Title:       LIT104 Literature from the Romantic Period to 20th Century 

Programme:                          BA in English Studies

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:                       Vanlallawmkimi (Coordinator), Sonam Deki and Dechen Pelden

General objective:  In the second survey module, students will trace the development of Literature from the Romantic period to the 20^th century in Britain. Students will read about the different literary genres set against historical events such as the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the Romantic Revival, the ascension of Queen Victoria, and the First World War. 

Learning Outcomes - On completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Connect major historical events such as the French Revolution and Industrial Revolution to the literary periods discussed herein.
2. Discuss the works and styles of the major authors prescribed in the module.
3. Facilitate a discussion on a prescribed text. 
4. Evaluate the literary movements and their importance.
5. Create a blog to introduce and interpret a poem not prescribed in the syllabus.
6. Analyse the prescribed texts and see how they reflect the ethos of the period. 
7. Explain the progressive development of English literature from the Renaissance period to the 20^th century.

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Assessment Approach:

Students will create a blog where they introduce and interpret a poem from any of the Romantic, Victorian or Modern periods that is not prescribed in the module. The assessment will follow a three-stage process. In the first stage, for 2% of the CA, students will email the tutor their choice of poem and justification to get it approved. The tone and appropriateness of formal email must be observed. In the second stage, for 8% of the CA, students will submit on VLE a brief account (200 to 250 words) highlighting the most important contents of their blog. This will be based on Blog Report assessment rubric. The final stage is the blog where students will introduce and interpret the poem. 

The VLE brief report will be assessed on the following criteria:

Understanding of the poem: 25 marks

Accuracy of comprehension: 25 marks

Quality of research and citation: 25 marks

Language and clarity: 25 marks

The blog will be assessed out of 20% and will based on the following criteria: 

Analysis: 20 marks

Original thought: 15 marks

Research and citation: 15 marks

Accuracy: 20 marks

Creativity: 15 marks 

Language and clarity: 15 marks

Groups of 4 – 5 members will be assigned a topic from Pride and Prejudice. Each group will have the opportunity to discuss their plan with the tutor once before the actual class discussion. In the class discussion, groups will be expected to formulate leading questions that facilitate a meaningful exploration of the subject. Group members will also be expected to ensure participation from their classmates as well as control the direction of the discussion. The Group Led Discussion will be assessed based on the following criteria: 

Analysis and argument: 30

Individual contribution: 25

Quality of discussion questions: 15

Facilitation: 15

Participation of all team members: 15

An open-book test for approximately 45 minutes on The Importance of Being Earnest will be conducted. Students will be asked to answer one essay-type analytical question, and students can refer the text to substantiate their argument. The assessment rubric will be provided two days before the test; the question will be provided at the time of the test. 

The open-book class test will be assessed on the following marking criteria:

Critical Analysis and Quality of Argument: 15 marks

Use of examples from the Primary texts: 30 marks

Depth of Knowledge and Accuracy of understanding: 30 marks

Language Use and Structure & Organisation: 25 marks 

Students will be expected to participate substantially in class discussions, with contributions reflecting adequate preparation for topics under discussion. 5% will be graded before mid-term, and the remaining 5% post midterm.

Students will take a written exam of 1.5 hr. duration covering topics up to the mid-point of the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions from all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, and will follow the programme’s blue-print for Midterm Examination questions.

Students will take a written exam of 2.5 hr. duration encompassing all the subject matter covered in the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions from all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, and will follow the programme blue-print for Semester-End Examination questions. 

Overview of assessment approaches and weighting

Pre-requisites: None 

Subject matter: 

1. Unit I: The Age of Romanticism (1765-1850)
   1. Influence of the American Revolution and the French Revolution on England
   2. The Industrial Revolution and its economic and social impact 
   3. Romantic Literature:
      1. Features of Romantic Poetry
      2. Recurrent themes in Romantic Literature
      3. Close reading and analysis of ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ from Songs of Innocence and ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ from Songs of Experience by William Blake
      4. Romantic Poetry: Close reading and analysis of ‘We are Seven’ by William Wordsworth
      5. Close reading and analysis of ‘Ode to the West Wind’ by P.B. Shelley
   4. Emergence of Romantic novel:
      1. Social context of the period
      2. Close reading and Analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
      3. Realism in Pride and Prejudice
2. Unit II: Victorian Period (1850-1900)
   1. Ascension of Queen Victoria 
   2. Overview of socio-economic context of Victorian England 
   3. Close reading and Analysis of Ulysses by Lord Alfred Tennyson
      1. Discussion on Victorian Imperialism in connection with Ulysses
   4. Close reading and Analysis of Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
      1. Impact of the conflict between Science and Faith in Victorian England.
   5. Close reading and Analysis of The Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti
      1. Discussion on the status and role of women in Victorian England.
   6. Comedy of Manners in the Victorian Period
      1. Features of Comedy of Manners
      2. Close reading and analysis of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
3. Unit III: 20^th Century Literature
   1. World War I and its impact on literature
   2. General themes in War Poetry
      1. Close reading and analysis of Wilfred Owen's Dulce Et Decorum Est
      2. Close reading and analysis of Rupert Brooke’s The Soldier
   3. Modern poetry
      1. Themes of alienation and isolation
      2. Close reading and analysis of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot

Reading List:

Essential reading (An essential compilation of the shorter reading materials will be made available to students)

Arnold, M. (n.d.). Dover beach. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172844 

Austen, J. (2013). Pride and prejudice. Prakash Book Depot.

Blake, W.(n.d.). The chimney sweeper: A little black thing among…https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43653/the-chimney-sweeper-a-little-      black-thing-among-the-snow. 

Blake, W. (n.d.). The chimney sweeper: When my mother died I was… https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43654/the-chimney-sweeper-when-my-mother-died-i-was-very-young 

Brooke, R. (n.d.). The soldier. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/13076/the-soldier

Eliot, T. S. (1963). The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock 

Owen, W. (1998). Dulce et decorum est. http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html 

Rossetti, C. (n.d.). Goblin market. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174262

Shelley, P. B. (n.d.). Ode to the west wind. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174401 

Tennyson, A. (n.d.). Ulysses. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174659 

Wilde, O. (n.d.). The importance of being Earnest. Vishv Books Private Limited.

Wordsworth, W.(n.d.). We are seven. https://poets.org/poem/we-are-seven

Additional reading

Daiches, D. (2011). A critical history of English literature (Vol. 2). Supernova Publishers.

Date: June 2022