ENGL3111 Epic Literature: Medieval to Early Modern

2019

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

1 9 Units of first level ENGL topics
2 4.5 Units of first level ENGL
3 COMS1001 - Academic and Professional Communication
4 4.5 Units of second level ENGL
Must Satisfy: ((1) or (2 and 3)) and (4)

Which literary works have inspired other writers? How have some challenged and changed the way people express themselves creatively? What are these works we call 'the big books', what makes them so important, or makes some people think they are so important? This topic considers these and many other questions. We will focus on aspects of cultural value and literary merit, while charting the reception of some of the most significant works of literature.

This topic will continue, and expand upon, the focus of 'The Big Books 1', acting as a 'bookend' for the English and Creative Writing majors. On completion of this topic, students will have had the opportunity to read and evaluate some of the core texts in our language - an opportunity that will properly prepare them for a completion of their major, or for further study in Honours and above.

Literature students will have the opportunity to communicate an understanding of the interpretation of literary texts through the production of analytical and argumentative writing while Creative Writing students will communicate high-level knowledge of narrative technique through the production of a literary text.

This topic aims to:

• develop a complex understanding of the place of a selected text in the context of its production in a major literary period

• apply close reading skills to selected texts

• communicate an understanding of the interpretation of literary texts through the production of analytical and argumentative writing (Literature majors)

• communicate high-level knowledge of narrative technique through the production of a literary text (Creative Writing majors)

On completion of this topic students will:

• have the capacity to apply the skill of close reading to selected literary texts and secondary texts

• have developed and extended their knowledge of selected significant literary texts and their place in literary history

• be able to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a workshop environment which has developed their critical capacities and their ability to craft a literary work

• be able to articulate complex understanding of the relationship between their own creative work and an aspect of the literary worlds under consideration