Undergraduate Course: Scottish Religious Poetry from the Sixth Century to the Present (DIVI10132)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the rich tradition of Scottish Religious poetry from the early medieval period to the present day. Through close readings, discussions of form and language, and examination of shifting historical periods and religious traditions, students will be introduced to the ways in which faith, spiritual struggle, and reflections on the sacred have been expressed creatively in Scotland's poetry over the centuries. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course explores Scotland's vibrant heritage of religious poetry and reflects on the nation's complex creative engagement with questions of cultural and spiritual identity through historical, theological, and literary lenses. It examines how belief and creativity have interacted in Scotland over time, focusing on three key aspects. First, students will survey Scotland's poetic engagement with religious themes over fifteen centuries. From the early medieval period through the Renaissance, Reformation, Romantic, and Victorian eras, to the modern day and post-secular context, the course highlights how poets have wrestled with issues of faith and doubt. Second, the course investigates how Scottish religious expression has transformed over time through various poetic forms and languages, including Scots, English, and Gaelic in translation. Finally, the course surveys and investigates a broad spectrum of religious perspectives, including Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist voices, as well as works reflecting atheist and agnostic viewpoints. Through detailed close readings, discussion of evolving themes, and critical engagement with scholarly debates on the religious thought of the nation over time, students will gain a deeper understanding of Scottish religious poetry from the sixth century to the present day.
Outline Content
The course begins with an introductory seminar on frameworks for understanding religious poetry and an overview of critical definitions of Scottish writing. There will be discussion of form, including lyric poetry, hymns, psalms, and sonnets. The anthology Scottish Religious Poetry from the Sixth Century to the Present (Saint Andrew Press, 2024) will be used as a source text to trace developing poetic responses to the sacred from early Scottish Christianity, through medieval poetry, the Reformation and poetics of spiritual struggle, Romanticism, Victorian faith and doubt, to Renaissance and revival in the twentieth century, before ending the course with an examination of contemporary Scottish religious poetry and the depiction of faith in Scotland today. There will be a final seminar which summarises themes across the rich, evolving landscape of Scottish poetry over time. Students will engage with scholarly perspectives on Scottish literature, religion and the nation throughout the course and will compare poetic techniques and preoccupations across centuries.
Student Learning Experience
This Level 10 course is made up of one two-hour seminar each week, which is comprised of an opening conversation between two subject specialists, before a whole-class discussion in the second hour. Having seminars led by two editors and critics of Scottish religious poetry enriches the student learning experience by offering deep and nuanced insights into this varied field. One seminar leader will specialize particularly in biblical and theological contexts, while the other will focus on the course texts, historical, cultural and aesthetic dimensions. Both will encourage discussion of poetic form, language, and diverse religious perspectives. The dual leadership of seminars will model dialogue and scholarly collaboration and will encourage questions and contributions throughout seminars. Each student will be required to undertake a close reading exercise and a final essay. Through participating in seminar discussions and undertaking the course's two pieces of written coursework, students will obtain a deep and nuanced achievement of the intended learning outcomes.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Divinity/Religious Studies courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
173 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Close reading exercise (1500 words): 40%
Final essay (2500 words): 60%
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| Feedback |
The seminar leaders will provide comments on the final essay plan. Students will receive feedback on all components of assessment. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Present detailed close readings of Scottish religious poetry, taking historical and theological context into account
- Analyse and critically evaluate the evolution of the formal structures and themes of Scottish religious poetry over time.
- Develop detailed written arguments about Scottish religious poetry, supported by secondary scholarship on literature and religion.
- Construct in-depth analyses of Scottish poetry from different religious contexts and traditions.
- Demonstrate understanding of the ways that belief in Scottish religious poetry reflects changing beliefs and communities.
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Reading List
Bateman, Meg, and James McGonigal, 'Faith and Religion', in The International Companion to Scottish Poetry, ed. by Carla Sassi (Glasgow: 2015), pp. 179-189.
Bicket, Linden, Emma Dymock, and Alison Jack, eds., Scottish Religious Poetry from the Sixth Century to the Present (Edinburgh, 2024)
Brown, Callum, Religion and Society in Scotland since 1707 (Edinburgh, 2007)
Carruthers, Gerard, Scottish Literature (Edinburgh, 2009).
Carruthers, Gerard, and Liam McIlvanney, eds., The Cambridge Companion to Scottish Literature (Cambridge, 2012).
Gribben, Crawford, and David George Mullan, eds., Literature and the Scottish Reformation (Farnham, Surrey, 2009).
McGuire, Matt, The Edinburgh Companion to Contemporary Scottish Poetry (Edinburgh, 2009).
Nicholson, Colin E., Poem, Place and Purpose: Shaping Identity in Contemporary Scottish Verse (Edinburgh, 1992).
Mason, Emma and M. Knight, Nineteenth-Century Religion and Literature (Oxford, 2006)
Smout, T. C., A Century of the Scottish People, 1830-1950 (London, 1986)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Capability to think critically and evaluate information thoroughly
Ability to think independently, exercising critical judgement about what to include and discard in scholarly argument
Leadership and planning, organizing, and time management
Sensitivity to diverse religious and cultural perspectives
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| Keywords | Scotland,poetry,belief,religion,doubt,literature |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Linden Bicket
Tel: (0131 6)50 8946
Email: L.Bicket@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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