The Twenty-First-Century British Novel - NSC00004I

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Module summary

This course introduces and examines major themes in twenty-first-century British novels, investigating how authors respond to and reflect on what it means to inhabit this cultural era.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

This module aims to…

• Introduce students to a selection of twenty-first-century literature across a range of genres and narrative styles.

• Examine major cultural and political issues in the twenty-first century reflected and explored by contemporary British writers.

• Equip students with close reading and plot analysis skills through critiques of twenty-first-century British novels.

• Explore key theoretical and critical discussions around contemporary literature.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module you will:

• have developed knowledge of the major cultural and political issues of the twenty-first century and how these are reflected and explored in novels by contemporary British writers.

• have acquired knowledge of key stylistic choices and narrative approaches present in twenty-first-century British novels, and what these styles accomplish.

• be able to use close reading and plot analysis skills to explore and critique twenty-first-century British novels and draw comparisons.

• be able to demonstrate research skills including information retrieval skills, the evaluation of materials, and the presentation of ideas.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

Formative: During the teaching period, you will write a draft version of your essay upon which you will receive written comments within 2 weeks of submission. You will also have a one-to-one tutorial with your tutor regarding their feedback. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is provided in a pedagogical spirit, and the NSC also offers you help in learning from your feedback.

You will receive written feedback on summative assessments within twenty days of submission.

Indicative reading

Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go (2005)

Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall (2009)

Ali Smith, Autumn (2016)

Bernadine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other (2019)