Students will acquire: Detailed, analytical knowledge of selected Victorian novels Close knowledge of a range of subgenres within the category of the Victorian novel Political and social knowledge of the range of ways in which the Victorians discussed questions of sexuality and commerce Awareness of the relation between nineteenth-century literature and important historical and intellectual developments of the time Contextual familiarity with Victorian non-fiction prose from a range of sources such as newspapers, parliamentary reports, letters and social investigations.
This module explores the Victorian period as a time of social and political turbulence β an era of contested gender relations and rapid commercial expansion β and considers how key Victorian novelists used fiction to examine the relationship between sex and money.
We study a range of literary bestsellers from the period, roaming across a range of subgenres such as the silver-fork novel, satirical realism, Chartist fiction, the Bildungsroman, and the sensation novel. In addition to the idea of the Victorian marriage market, we will typically be considering the sexual and commercial connotations of topics such as women and luxury; homosexuality, homosociality and consumption; prostitution; counterfeiting and the idea of the gentleman; gender and speculation.
The module will allow students to acquire: An ability to analyse the literature of an earlier era, and to relate its concerns and its modes of expression to its historical context Communication skills, and an ability to work both individually and in groups Appropriate research and bibliographic skills, a capacity to construct a coherent, substantiated argument and a capacity to write clear and correct prose Proficiency in information retrieval and analysis Skill in understanding and interpreting a range of non-literary texts of the period and an ability to consider them in relation to the Victoria novel An ability to conceptualize and explore critical questions relating to the representation of sexuality and commerce in a range of literary figurations.
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules.
