| Unit name | Early English Love Poetry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL21009 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Tom Sperlinger |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will offer an introduction to the tradition(s) of love poetry in early English literature, from Chaucer to the Renaissance. It will include study of a range of works, from anonymous mediaeval love lyrics to Elizabeth sonneteers and the so-called Metaphysicals.
Aims:
This unit aims to introduce students to the tradition(s) of love poetry in early English literature, from Chaucer to the Renaissance. Through this, the unit will introduce a range of approaches to the reading and appreciation of poetry; it will also offer insights into the chronology and development of literature in this period.
Students will have had an opportunity to develop their skills in approaching poetry in general, and to acquire knowledge and understanding of traditions of early English love poetry in particular. Through this, there will have been opportunities also to gain insight into the chronology and development of literature in this period.
The unit will normally be taught in five three-hour seminars, utilising a range of teaching methods including short lectures by the tutor(s), formal and informal presentations by students, and seminar and smaller group discussion.
Students will be assessed through a 72-hour take-home examination, which will normally be set at 2pm on a Friday afternoon with students required to submit by the same time on the following Monday. Answers should preferably be word-processed, and of between 1,500 to 2,000 words (excluding footnotes). The format of this examination is based on similar 24-hour examinations offered in full-time programmes. The longer time period is designed to make it practical for part-time students to complete such an examination, given that they may have a variety of other commitments. The question/s will be intended to assess students' ability to reflect on the main ideas covered in the unit as well as on their own changing understanding of the issues involved. The 72-hour format is intended to encourage answers which are more thoughtful and imaginative than is possible in more orthodox exams. Although students may wish to consult secondary sources in the writing of the exam, the nature of the question will be such that this will normally not be necessary.
A course handbook will be provided, containing poetry by relevant authors (including Chaucer, Wyatt, Shakespeare, Sidney, and Donne) and a sample of critical materials.
