EN3PSY: Psychoanalysis and Text

Module code: EN3PSY

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein, email: k.b.lesnik-oberstein@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have at least 40 credits of EN-coded modules at Part 1 (except for visiting students). (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Through the reading of both theoretical and fictional texts the relationships between Freudian ideas about the unconscious and the reading and criticism of texts will be analysed and addressed, drawing on arguments of critics such as Shoshana Felman (‘Turning the Screw of Interpretation’) and Jacqueline Rose (The Case of Peter Pan). These include considering the way that psychoanalysis has been read as affecting ideas of authorship and biography, and of interpretation. The aims are both to introduce students to a reading of some texts from Freud and other relevant psychoanalytic theory, and to promote an ability to reflect on critical languages and practices, in order to begin to develop some understanding of the complex relationships between ideas of psychoanalysis and ideas of literary criticism. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Exercise skills of close textual analysis, especially in relation to reading all texts, including psychoanalytic or critical texts and understand how and why this is motivated by the implications of psychoanalysis
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the theoretical and methodological issues pertinent to the module throughout their own critical formulations and readings
3. Understand the centrality of the reading of narration/ perspectives to the implications of psychoanalysis for reading
4. Have an understanding of issues core to psychoanalysis, including ideas of the ‘unconscious’ and sexuality
5. Connect the issues and implications of this module to related issues on other modules

Module content

This module introduces and explores relationships between psychoanalysis and literary criticism, concentrating not on psychoanalysis as ‘applied’ to literature, but, instead, on thinking through the implications of psychoanalysis for literary criticism and theory. On the basis of readings from Sigmund Freud the students are introduced to central concepts from and about psychoanalysis, primarily the psychoanalytic ‘unconscious’, and then continue by examining the implications of this for ideas about authorship and intentionality, readership and response, and text and interpretation. After the initial readings from Freud, each group selects both primary and secondary literature to analyse closely. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Three seminar hours weekly, for which students are required to do preparatory reading. Students must also attend 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. 

Study hours

At least 33 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students write one formative analysis of between 1500 and 2000 words. 

Reassessment

Additional costs