Modern British Fiction since 1950

Code	School	Level	Credits	Semesters
ENGL3081	English	3	20	Autumn Malaysia

Code: ENGL3081
School: English
Level: 3
Credits: 20
Semesters: Autumn Malaysia

Summary

The focus of the module is the post-war novel affecting or responding to social and cultural life in Britain. `British' is here conceived as an inclusive concept, open to contestation and available for appropriation (as in `Black British'). Key texts from the 1950s up to the present day will be selected for study. Particular issues will set the agenda, including: representations of history; gender; ethnicity; the state-of-the-nation; national identity; formal innovation etc. Discussion will concentrate on the formal operations and innovations of selected novelists, and will be underpinned by a consideration of how the contemporary context influences these questions of form.

Target Students

Year 3 students in BA English Language and Literature, and BA ELL with Creative Writing.

Classes

One 3-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks

Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester.

Assessment

50% Assignment: 2500-word essay
50% Exam 1 (2-hour-30-minute): 2.5 hours examination

Educational Aims

This module aims to provide students with a good working knowledge of the novel in Britain in the post-war period.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding of:

the work of key practitioners

the main themes of modern British fiction

the formal concerns of the novel in this period

the relevance of developments in the novel to the broader cultural context Intellectual skills

the ability to think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others Professional skills

the ability to write accurately, and to present written material using conventions appropriate to literary study.

the ability to construct and communicate a sustained analysis Transferable skills

the ability to communicate effectively in writing

the ability to reflect upon and assess progress

Conveners

Prof Danton Relato Remoto

View in Curriculum Catalogue

Last updated 09/01/2025.