| Unit name | Gender, Desire and the Renaissance Stage |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL20206 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Ian Calvert |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will examine the way in which gender and desire are represented in a wide range of early modern plays. These depictions will be studied alongside a number of other primary sources - such as conduct books, sumptuary laws, and tracts on witchcraft - to give a sense of the historical conditions that gave rise to the plays, and will be analysed in relation to current ideas within literary theory.
Aims:
The unit will aim to investigate both early modern constructions of sexual difference and desire, and the way in which these notions are conceptualised and articulated in different schools of criticism. This unit intends to introduce students to a wide range of Renaissance drama, in order to raise important issues in the historical construction and theoretical issues surrounding ideas about gender.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1) demonstrate an understanding of the social, philosophical and intellectual contexts that gave rise to the plays, and
2) engage critically with the different theoretical approaches to the study of literature
3) demonstrate a more detailed knowledge of Renaissance literature;
4) demonstrate an ability to analyse literary texts within both a historical and theoretical context; and
5) demonstrate skills in textual analysis, argumentation, close textual analysis, and critical interpretation appropriate to level I/5 using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources.
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including group discussion, research and writing activities, and peer dialogue. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation.
Students will be given the opportunity to submit a draft or outline of their final essay of up to 1,500 words and to receive feedback on this.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ENGL20206).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
