| Unit name | Dangerous Books |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL20023 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Tom Sperlinger |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None. |
| Co-requisites |
None. |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Can works of literature only reflect society, or might they be a catalyst for reform? If a book has an urgent political message, can it also become a lasting work of art? Why might a work of literature be considered dangerous? In what circumstances are books banned? And conversely, what does this tell us about the power of literature, including in consciousness-raising or as a form of protest or resistance? This unit will explore these questions and others, through a reading of imaginative and non-fiction works from c. 1800 to 1980 that might be thought to constitute a ‘radical’ tradition. Texts to be studied will include fiction of various kinds, including socially realist works and political allegories; essays and polemics; and literary texts in English from other cultures, including apartheid South Africa.
On successful completion of this unit students will have had an opportunity to
(1) develop a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of literary works in the nineteenth and twentieth century that might be thought to constitute a ‘radical’ tradition in the period;
(2) develop an in-depth understanding of some of the historical and political contexts that inform this literature;
(3) engage with questions about whether literature may be a didactic, dangerous, powerful or revolutionary medium and consider the implications of these ideas for related questions in aesthetics and reception;
(4) demonstrate the ability to analyse and evaluate differing critical accounts of the primary literature;
(5) demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument;
(6) strengthen their ability to articulate their ideas through academic writing.
Normally 1 x 2-hour seminar per week; or an equivalent number of hours across the teaching block (e.g. if taught outside normal hours for students on the BA English Literature and Community Engagement).
Both summative elements will assess ILOs 1-6.
