EN3MS-Mapping Sense: Women Travel Writers and the Twentieth Century

Module Provider: English Literature
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Matthew Scott
Email: t.m.l.scott@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

With some notable exceptions (such as Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Mary Wollstonecraft), the majority of pre-twentieth travel writing in English was produced by male travellers, often as they were involved in some way with the imperial project. Over the course of the last century, by contrast, an extraordinarily rich tradition emerged of writing by women who were living abroad or engaged in exploration or reportage. This module explores this tradition, beginning in the interwar years and then continuing through the second half of the century to investigate the many different forms of travel writing that emerged out of the period of Modernism. We will examine the ways in which travel writing richly incorporates different kinds of genres (such as the memoir, art history, political commentary, war reportage, historical analysis) and reflect on the ways in which these writers engaged with earlier influences and reacted to contemporary history. We will explore readings drawn from some of the following: Rebecca West, Sybille Bedford, Elizabeth Bowen, Mary McCarthy, Freya Stark, Gertrude Bell, Elizabeth David, Patience Gray, Martha Gellhorn, Iris Origo, Rose Macauley, Jan Morris, Rachel Cusk and A L Kennedy. Many of the readings will focus on Europe (Yugoslavia, Italy, the Mediterranean) but there will also be scope to look beyond at the Middle East and North America.   

Aims:

This module provides students with an informed critical knowledge of travel writing by women in the twentieth century. It aims to promote knowledge and understanding of a significant but little explored body of literature in both its formal and cultural contexts. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

Intended learning outcomes:

To attain an understanding of the tradition of travel writing by women as it develops over the twentieth century.

To be able to identify key elements that these varied texts have in common and recognise central concerns that emerge across them.

To recognise how they reflect important developments in social and political history, as well as engage with contemporary events and past history.< /p>

To read closely for literary style and identify the use of genre conventions as well as the development of new forms of writing.

Additional outcomes:

Each module is designed to encourage you to develop skills of oral communication and effective participation in group work. Additionally, you will be encouraged to enhance your IT competence through the use of relevant web resources and library databases, and through the word-processing of assessed coursework.

Outline content:

Some of the following may be included:

Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon

Sybille Bedford, Don Ottavio and Pleasures and Landscapes

Elizabeth Bowen, A Time in Rome

Freya Stark, The Lycian Shore

Gertrude Bell, The Desert and the Sown

Jan Morris, Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere

Elizabeth David, Mediterranean Food

Patience Gray, Honey from a Weed

Mary McCarthy, The Stones of Florence

Rose Macauley, The Fabled Shore and The Pleasure of Ruins

Iris Origo, War in Val d’Orcia

Martha Gellhorn, Travels with Myself and Another

Rachel Cusk, The Last Supper

A L Kennedy, On Bullfighting

 

Global context:

This module has a self-evident global context.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will be several texts to be examined in their entirety (eg. Elizabeth Bowen’s A Time in Rome) but for the most part we will focus on relevant extracts drawn from longer texts and made available to the students as readings. Three seminar hours weekly, for which students are required to do preparatory reading. Students are also entitled to a half-hour tutorial on their formative written work. 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 studying for this module in a professional context outside the University.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars		30	1
Tutorials		0.5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		40
Wider reading (directed)		40
Exam revision/preparation			29
Preparation for tutorials		0.5
Preparation for seminars		20
Completion of formative assessment tasks		15
Revision and preparation			10
Essay preparation		14
Total hours by term	0	160	40
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Two-hour examination (50%), to be sat during the Summer Term.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Assessed essay of 2500 words (50%), to be handed in on Friday of Week 11, 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 one formative essay, of 1500 words, to be handed in on Friday of Week 5, Spring Term. Feedback will also be provided on the assessed essay of 2500 words, or the equivalent placement report.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres 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 (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 £100 max


2. Computers and devices with a particular specification Basic word processing

Last updated: 8 April 2021