ENMBEC: Samuel Beckett

Module code: ENMBEC

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Mark Nixon , email: m.nixon@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides an in-depth study of the works and intellectual contexts of Samuel Beckett, one of the most important and experimental writers of the twentieth century. It will look at a representative selection from his drama, prose, poetry and criticism, as well as his works in radio, television and film, and will encourage students to engage with the University’s Beckett Archive, the largest collection of manuscripts and other materials relating to the author in the world.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Think critically, and engage questioningly with contemporary conversations about literary texts, and theoretical debates; question my own assumptions and methodology, and others’.   
2. Close read, analyzing the form and content of language and, above all, the intersection of the two, and negotiate nuance and ambiguity.   
3. Present the results of research (or reading, or critical thinking) lucidly and confidently, both orally and in writing.   
4. Synthesize an original written argument, locating analysis of particular texts within a broader theoretical and contextual setting.  

Module content

The exact contents of the module will be coordinated in discussion with the students enrolled so as to take account of their particular interests. Generally students of this module will examine Beckett’s work in a variety of media and genres, such as drama, prose, radio and television, film, poetry and non-fiction. As well as undertaking close textual analysis, the module will place Beckett’s work in relation to his life and wider cultural contexts. Topics to be discussed in seminars will include Beckett’s relationship to intellectual currents in the twentieth century; the impact on his work of psychology, philosophy and the visual arts; performance and theatre studies; and his relationship to Ireland, to Europe and to the political contexts from which he wrote. Students will also be introduced to the Beckett Archive, the largest resource of its kind in the world.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will be delivered through weekly intensive seminar discussions (one two-hour seminar per week). Each seminar will involve discussion of texts or special materials that have been set and prepared in advance. Module tutors will also be available for consultation with students on a one-to-one basis to discuss their work and the progress of the module as a whole. 

Study hours

At least 22 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 50% 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs