Undergraduate Course: Contemporary Scottish Fiction (ENLI10280)
Course Outline
School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This course will look at the relationship between Scottish fiction, politics and culture in the context of devolution. We will examine a range of novels published over the last thirty years which showcase the strength and diversity of contemporary Scottish fiction, and consider the ways in which Scottish writing might be seen to reflect larger debates about political and cultural autonomy in the period, issues around cultural identity, and anxieties amongst Scottish intellectuals about the possibilities and dangers of nationalism. However we will also need to consider the ways in which those issues are mediated through the form of the contemporary novel, in particular the nature, variety and extent of contemporary departures from the conventions of realism; even the constitution of the literary field itself. The most striking feature of much of the writing of the period may be its apparent distance from overt political commitment, its distrust of the public realm, suspicion of historical narrative, and its focus on interiority and subjectivity. What does this mean for our understanding of the relationship between literature and society in contemporary Scotland? |
Course description |
Not entered
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Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | A MINIMUM of three college/university level literature courses at grade B or above (should include no more than one introductory level literature course). Related courses such as civilisation or creative writing are not considered for admissions to this course.
Applicants should also note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. In making admissions decisions preference will be given to students who achieve above the minimum requirement with the typical visiting student admitted to this course having three to four literature classes at grade A.
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High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 15 |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
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Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
One coursework essay of 2,500 words (30%)
One practical assessment (10%)
One sit down exam essay of c. 3,000 words (60%) |
Feedback |
Not entered |
Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students should expect to be able to demonstrate their familiarity with a range of contemporary Scottish writers and to critically evaluate their work considered against its social and cultural background. Students should be able to discuss the political and ethical dimensions of narrative technique and genre, and suggest why particular works adopt specific formal strategies.
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Reading List
Candia McWilliam, Debatable Land
Allan Massie, A Question of Loyalties
Andrew O'Hagan, Our Fathers
Alasdair Gray, 1982 Janine
James Kelman, How Late It Was, How Late
Ali Smith, Like
A.L. Kennedy, So I Am Glad
Alan Warner, Morvern Callar
James Robertson, The Testament of Gideon Mack |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Alex Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3058
Email: Alex.Thomson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms June Haigh
Tel: (0131 6)50 3620
Email: j.haigh@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2015 The University of Edinburgh - 2 September 2015 4:03 am
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