Politics & the Novel - POL00027H
Module summary
Exploring the relationship between political context, literary writing, and political thought.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
Politics and the Novel aims to bridge the study of literature and
politics through a close reading of selected texts that deal with
political experiences, ideas and challenges. While the particular
region, period or problem in focus varies from year to year, we
examine the fictional treatment of these political-historical
contexts, its political sentiments and their translation into
socio-political ideas. By the end of the module students should be
able to show detailed knowledge of the major political and
philosophical themes studied, alongside an understanding of how these
themes are worked upon to a critical effect in novels. They should
have developed their research, writing and presentational skills and
be able to formulate viable research questions that bring together the
two academic disciplines of English and Politics.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be expected to
demonstrate:
A thorough knowledge of the body of texts under
consideration;
A strong awareness of the cultural and political
history of the period/contexts
studied;
Awareness of
critical debates shaping the reception of the writings under
study;
Insight into the complexity of the ways in which political
contexts influence literary writing, and how, in turn, literary
writing can play a role in political thought.
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
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutors feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutors regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Trepanier L (2020) ‘What can Political Science learn from
literature?’, Political Science Reviewer,
44(1): 1-19.
Scott
K (2016) The Limits of Politics: Making the Case for Literature in
Political Analysis (Maryland:
Lexington).