2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

FREN1061 Critical Questions: Approaches to Reading and Interpretation

10 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Nina Wardleworth
Email: N.A.wardleworth@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Grade B in French at A level, or equivalent

Co-requisites

FREN1062

Readings in Modern French Society

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module introduces you to the theory and practice of criticism and interpretation. It also introduces you to some of the theoretical debates, in France and elsewhere, about the nature and function of art and literature. It is not simply an introduction to critical theory. Rather, it aims to encourage you to question your preconceptions about art, literature and culture, and it should serve to prepare you for the critical reading and interpretation which you will undertake in future modules: this is a module designed to offer an intellectual foundation for subsequent work and debates. For further information please contact Margaret Guntrip in the Department of French.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of aspects of the theory and practice of modern criticism and awareness of some of the theoretical debates about the nature and function of art and literature;
- discuss analytically some of the different questions that critics can ask of literary texts;
- consider how they might adopt different critical positions in their own reading and analysis in other parts of their course;
- form cogent and persuasive arguments, both orally and in writing, on the issues central to the module.

Syllabus

This module introduces first-year students to the theory and practice of criticism and to some of the theoretical debates about the nature and function of art and literature. It is not simply an introduction to critical theory; rather, it aims to encourage students to question their preconceptions about art, literature and culture and it should serve to prepare them for the critical reading and interpretation which they will undertake in future modules.

This is a module designed to offer an intellectual foundation for subsequent work and debates. Interactive lectures will examine some of the central concepts of modern criticism and theory and the problems encountered in the interpretation of language, literature, cinema and other artistic media.

Lecturers will choose short extracts from the works of key twentieth-century thinkers and commentators and present these to students in lectures, using them as a basis for discussion and giving some guidance on possible ways of commenting critically on them.

Lectures will also give some sense of how different abstract approaches might be put into practice. This will be achieved through occasional reference to Gide's 'L'Immoraliste', which students will be expected to read at an early stage.

Students will also be expected to refer week by week to Peter Barry, 'Beginning Theory' for further discussion of the issues raised in lectures.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			90.00
Total Contact hours			10.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

- Background reading
- Preparing for assessment.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- optional practice commentary
- returned promptly with feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	1,000-1,500 word commentary	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/03/2018 17:22:50

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