EN2LV-Lyric Voices 1340-1650

Module Provider: English Literature
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: English Part 1 or A-Level (A*, A or B)
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Module Convenor: Dr Mary Morrissey

Email: m.e.morrissey@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkBJYjk4hqM&t=2s

This module explores the development of lyric poetry from anonymous medieval songs, the complex courtly verse inspired by French and Italian fashions, to the great variety of lyric poems written by men and women in the seventeenth century.  It will examine the construction of lyric personae and their characteristic voices, including the lover, the sinner, the courtier, and the social commentator.  Attention is given to the varied contexts in which lyric poetry appeared, and to the emergence of modern ideas of authorship.  Seminars will be grouped around such topics as: love; religious experience; audiences and authorship; social satire.

Aims:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of many of the major developments of English lyric poetry from the medieval period to the seventeenth century. It is designed to develop students' skills of close textual analysis, and to equip them to recognise a number of the main topics in, and chief influences upon, the poetry of the period. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• analyse in detail the language and other distinctive features of the poems studied


• identify the influence of major movements and some of the effects of changing manuscript and print technologies in the period


• demonstrate an understanding of how the verse interacts with the social milieux in which it was written


• organize and articulate a coh erent written argument in assignments


• construct a small anthology of lyric poems and provide a rationale for the selections made.

Additional outcomes:
Oral and written communication skills will be developed, together with critical, interpretative and analytical abilities. Students will also enhance their IT competence through the use of relevant web resources in a critically informed manner.

Outline content:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of many of the major developments of English lyric poetry from the medieval period to the seventeenth century.  It is designed to develop students’ skills in close textual analysis, and to equip them to recognise a number of the main topics in, and chief influences upon, the poetry of the period. Student are encouraged to explore the poems found in the two set text anthologies, as well as the unpublished anthology edited by the convenors (available on Blackboard).

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will be five lectures and five one-hour seminars at the start of the term. After week 6, we will have one two-hour seminar per week and no lectures. Students will be given preparatory reading and sometimes research to do for each meeting.  Students can request an individual tutorial feedback on the first coursework essay.With the consent of the module convenor, students may also undertake a placement, through which they will learn how to apply the knowledge and skills gained in stu dying for this module in a professional context outside the University.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	15		0
Seminars	13.5
Tutorials	0.5
Practicals classes and workshops			0
Guided independent study:	171		0
Total hours by term	200	0	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	33
Project output other than dissertation	67

Summative assessment- Examinations:

n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Assessed essay (33%), to be submitted in week 7, Autumn Term

Short Anthology (67%), to be submitted at the beginning of week 0, Spring Term

Formative assessment methods:

Formative Assessment Methods - work which provides opportunities to improve performance (e.g. through feedback provided) but which does not necessarily always contribute towards the overall module mark: Students write a 500 word analysis of one of the poems that they have chosen for their summative assessment. Feedback will also be provided on the assessed essay and anthology exercise, or on the equivalent placement report.

Penalties for late submission:

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of at least 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination in August. Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more. Otherwise it must be resubmitted in August.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books

Last updated: 23 April 2020