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The Victorians - YorkCourse - 40N0132

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  • Department: English and Related Literature
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Jonathan Brockbank
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module is for Norwegian Study Centre Postgraduate Students only.

The module surveys the major literary and cultural developments in the period and the central preoccupations of Victorian writing, as formulated by contemporaries and by recent critics and theorists. It introduces key thematic areas and problems in the interpretation of nineteenth-century literature across a broad range of genres. It aims to give a good grounding in: (i) A representative range of Victorian literature; (ii) the political, social and aesthetic contexts of Victorian writing in Britain during this period; (iii) a variety of different perspectives on the historical construction of Victorian literature and culture.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

Most of the inventions and settings of modern life can be traced back to the nineteenth century when the Industrial Revolution transformed Britain from a rural to an urban country to become the ‘workhouse of the world’. The human cost of this transformation preoccupies the major writers of this century, from the Bronte’s account of women caught between classes to Dicken’s exploration of the squalor of London. The psychological cost is of equal importance. This is the century that gives rise to the horror fiction of Stephenson and the science-fiction of H.G. Wells as the century moves towards the invention of psychoanalysis via fantasy works such those of Lewis Caroll.

  • Literary: to use a mixture of close reading and plot analysis to explore the different writing styles of the nineteenth century and their purpose.
  • Historical/political: to examine the diverse reactions to the rise of Britain from a small maritime island to the world’s major imperial power.
  • Sociological: to explore the changes in morality over the period, particularly the struggle for social rights women and children.
  • Cultural: to experience how the movements of the time are reflected in the art of the day, set against a view from below; the Britain of popular and traditional songs.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

  • Show a thorough and critical understanding of the engagement of Victorian literature with a range of political, social and aesthetic issues in the period.
  • describe and evealuate a range of critical persepectives about Victorian literature.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with and the use of a range of research methods and tools (for example, library and archival catalogues and online databases) in order to successfully carry out a substantial piece of independent and original research.
  • Demonstrate the ability to present extended and complex arguments in writing and orally to an academic audience.
  • Show the academic, personal and professional skills required to equip you to undertake your MA dissertation in Norway and to afterwards carry on to PhD research or make immediate impact upon employment in a relevant field, such as teaching.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

Formative: During the teaching period, you will be required to submit an annotated bibliography, two part drafts and a full draft of your essay to the module convenor for feedback. You will receive written comments on each of these within 2 weeks of submission. Further feedback will be provided during five one-to-one tutorials which will be evenly spaced throughout the semester. These are designed to help you with the skills needed to successfully conduct individual and original MA-level work/research.

Summative: You will receive written feedback on your summative assessment within 20 working days of submission. This is normally sent via email. You are welcome to discuss this written feedback with the module convenor, your pastoral supervisor, the YorkCourse Co-ordinator and/or the NSC Director.

Indicative reading

Core texts

  • Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre
  • Dickens: Great Expectations
  • Caroll: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking glass
  • Hardy: Tess of the D’Urberville


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.