Modernism in Poetry and Fiction

Summary module description:
This module examines the concepts of modernity and modernism, and relates them to the history of early twentieth-century poetry and fiction. Experimentation and innovation in poetic and narrative form are explored as responses to wider social upheaval and cultural movements.

Aims:
The module aims to develop students? knowledge and critical understanding of early twentieth-century writing and its cultural contexts, focusing on the study of selected works of modern English, American, and Irish poetry and fiction.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:

?Analyse distinctive features of the set texts
?Identify and discuss some of the features of literary modernism against its contexts ? cultural, social, and political
?Organize and articulate a coherent written argument, both in coursework essays and under timed examination conditions
Additional outcomes:
Oral and written communication skills will be developed, together with critical, interpretative and analytical abilities. Students will also enhance their IT competence through the use of relevant web resources in a critically informed manner.

Outline content:
The lecture strand of the module will provide cultural, and historical, contextual material relating to the period of ?High Modernism?, c.1900-1939. The set texts for the poetry strand will include work by Yeats, Eliot, Pound and HD; the fiction strand will cover novels by Conrad, Lawrence, Woolf, Joyce, Barnes and Beckett.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
A combination of lectures and structured seminar discussion, for which students are required to do preparatory reading. Students are also entitled to a half-hour tutorial on their formative essay. With the consent of the module convenor, students may also undertake a placement, through which they will learn how to apply the knowledge and skills gained in studying for this module in a professional context outside the University.

Summative Assessment Methods:
Written exam 67%
Written assignment including essay 33%

Other information on summative assessment:
Summative Assessment Methods (%) - work which always contributes towards the overall module mark:

Formative assessment methods:
Students write one formative essay, of approximately 1500 words. Feedback will also be provided on the assessed essay of 1800-2000 words, or the equivalent placement report. Feedback on written exams will be available on request from the Director of Teaching and Learning.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late, in accordance with the University policy.
where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for the piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Requirements for a pass:
A mark of at least 40% overall.