ENG10050 Literature in Context 1

Academic Year 2019/2020

Chaucer’s Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale, and Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew lie at the heart of this module. Both are the work of writers perceived as key to the medieval and early modern periods, respectively, and therefore will offer an opportunity to examine key issues in the writing of these periods (1300-1600). Through a series of dynamic lectures and supporting workshops, students will explore the shifting aesthetic, cultural, and socio-political trends that influence both the construction and reading of these texts. Students will be introduced to the changing nature of language, textual discourse, literary production, author, and audience, which will facilitate the development of skills necessary for the close reading of texts from the medieval and Renaissance periods. Emphasis will be placed on the engagement with key library resources for the study of medieval and early modern literature so that students acquire a range of sophisticated research skills that will enable them to advance in the interpretation of texts.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will:
1. Appreciate the difference between describing, viewing and analysing literary texts, and understand that analysis is the key aim of literary scholarship at third level.
2. Be able to locate and access reputable secondary critical materials, and use them to support the reading and analysis of literary texts.
3. Have some knowledge of the social, material and historical contexts of medieval and early modern literature, and be able to apply this knowledge to the interpretation of medieval and Renaissance texts.
4. Have a basic ability to differentiate various registers of language from the medieval and early modern periods, and a critical understanding of the relationship between words and meanings.
5. Have demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively and independently.

Indicative Module Content:

There are just two set texts on this module: Shakespeare's _The Taming of the Shrew_ and Chaucer's _The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale_. Each week we'll focus on one or other of the texts, moving towards comparative discussion by the end of the module.

Lectures and tutorials will provide general introductions to the two texts, their authors, and literary periods; will attend to early modern and middle English; will cover Renaissance and medieval contexts; and will address Shakespeare and Chaucer's language and literary style.

The module will pay particularly attention to themes such as gender, sexuality, marriage, power, speech, and performance.

Here is the provisional lecture schedule for 2019-20:

Module Introduction: Medieval and Renaissance Literature and Contexts
Introduction to The Taming of the Shrew
Introduction to The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
Literary Research Skills
Shakespeare and Language
Middle English Language
Adaptation: Ten Things I Hate About You and Chaucer Re-told
READING WEEK
Staging The Taming of the Shrew
The Wife of Bath and Ventriloquism
Themes in Chaucer and Shakespeare
Module Conclusion: Medieval v Renaissance

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Small Group

12
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

26
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In this module students are supported to become more independent learners. Students will be encouraged to participate in lectures as appropriate and expected to fully engage in tutorial activities, including getting involved in class discussions and working together in small groups. Lectures will provide broad frameworks while tutorials will focus on the development of close reading skills. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Literature in Context 1 (ENG1003E)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Journal: Critical reading journal Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Group Project: Adapt a short passage of text for a modern audience and submit as an audio or video recording. Week 9 n/a Graded No

30
Assignment: 2,000-word written assignment: choice of either essay or creative writing Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Critical reading journal: You will receive feedback as an individual or group on early entries and then have the opportunity to revise your journal entries before final submission. Group project: You will receive written group feedback post-assessment. Final written assignment: You will receive individual written feedback post-assessment upon request.

There are two set texts on this module:

William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, ed. by Dympna Callaghan (Norton, 2009)
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, ed. by V. A. Kolve and Glending Olson (Norton, 2018)

Please note that it is important to get the editions we recommend as both have additional resources that we will use on the module. A bundle of the two books is available in the Campus Bookshop for €16 (Price correct September 2018)
Name Role
Ms Vanessa Buckley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Niamh Pattwell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Joana Blanquer Tutor
Ms Jenny Cryar Tutor
Ms Anna Graham Tutor
Mr Ciarán Leinster Tutor
Dr Laura Loftus Tutor
Ms Julia O'Connell Tutor