Undergraduate Course: An Introduction to Scottish Literature: The Literature of Edinburgh (LLLG07139)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course explores the rich literary heritage of Scotland, examining the work of some of the country's most celebrated literary works in connection to its capital city. We shall consider the importance of the city of Edinburgh, the world's first UNESCO designated city of literature, in shaping the country's literary landscape. We shall read a wide variety of texts from the 19th Century to present day and consider the common themes which emerge. |
| Course description |
The course will explore a range of texts inspired by, or written in, Edinburgh. For each text we shall examine the presentation of Edinburgh and consider how the local setting may have influenced the development of the text. From the outset, we shall examine literary texts as well as other materials, locating the authors within the country's cultural and historical context. Initial discussion of Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will expose one of the key themes of the course: that of 'duality'. Students will be asked to continue to consider this theme as we explore the writings of other long and short-term residents of Edinburgh as well as those who have been inspired in different ways by the city.
The course will be taught in a small seminar setting, where participation will be supported and encouraged.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Evaluate, compare and contrast a wide range of texts, demonstrating knowledge of Scotland's linguistic, literary, cultural and socio-political contexts;
- Analyse literary texts by applying close-reading techniques and referring to recognised literary terminology to illustrate arguments;
- Construct, present and evaluate arguments coherently by assessing, analysing and responding to secondary reading;
- Analyse contemporary responses and reactions to texts by evaluating and assessing ideas from non-literary texts such as letters, criticism or journalism.
|
Reading List
Essential:
Spark, M. (2000) The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Atkinson, K. (2011) Case Histories. London: Black Swan.
Glover, S. (2005) Bondagers and The Straw Chair. London: Methuen. NB. Please only read Bondagers for this class.
Burke, G. (2007) Black Watch. London: Faber.
Poems by Robert Burns, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon will be provided as PDF handouts.
Recommended:
Foster, A. (2005) The Literary traveller in Edinburgh: a book lover¿s guide to the world¿s first city of literature. Allan Foster. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing.
Skoblow, J. (2001) Dooble Tongue: Scots, Burns, Contradiction. Newark: University of Delaware Press.
Roberts, D. (1996) Minds at War: The Poetry and Experience of the First World War. Burgess Hill: Saxon Books.
Barker, P. (2008) Regeneration. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Brown, I. (2011) The Edinburgh Companion to Scottish Drama. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Brannigan, J. et al. (2019) Robert Burns in Edinburgh: an illustrated guide to Burns¿ time in Edinburgh. Glasgow, Scotland, UK: Waverley Books.
Robinson, R. (2012) The National Theatre of Scotland's Black Watch. Contemporary Theatre Review, 22 (3), pp. 392-399.
Page, N. (1990) Muriel Spark. Basingstoke: Macmillan Education.
Web sources
Handouts
Poetry to be provided as PDF handouts.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Confidence in discussing texts
Ability to articulate knowledge and arguments coherently
Ability to assess secondary material |
| Keywords | Scottish Literature Edinburgh |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Douglas Dougan
Tel:
Email: ddougan@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr John Ethcuit
Tel: (0131 6)50 3409
Email: jethcuit@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage