2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL1260 Poetry: Reading and Interpretation

20 creditsClass Size: 500

School of English

Module manager: Dr Matthew Rubery
Email: m.rubery@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisite qualifications

Grade B at A level in English Language or Literature or equivalent.

Module replaces

ENGL1130

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module aims to give you the confidence to read and enjoy poetry. You will have the opportunity to explore in depth poems from a range of genres and historical periods and you will be introduced to the critical skills required for studying verse. The technical features of poetry in English (for example, rhythm, metre, rhyme, and form) will be introduced and examined alongside other critical, historical and social contexts. The module will provide a foundation for those wishing to explore poetry on their own for pleasure or those wishing to make it part of their future academic study. It will give you a sustained opportunity not only for mastering the formal basics of verse forms, but also for asking the questions: What is poetry? How does it work? How does it see itself and how has it been seen in relation to other aspects of culture?

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to read poetic texts with an awareness of historical context; they will possess the fundamental critical skills and terminologies required to produce close textual readings of poetry and be familiar with range of critical/theoretical approaches to poetry and to literature and culture across history more generally.

Learning outcomes
Students will have developed:
- the ability to use written and oral communication effectively;
- the capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse;
- the ability to manage quantities of complex information in a structured and systematic way;
- the capacity for independent thought and judgement;
- critical reasoning;
- research skills, including the retrieval of information, the organisation of material and the evaluation of its importance;
- IT skills;
- efficient time management and organisation skills;
- the ability to learn independently.

Skills outcomes
Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.

Syllabus

This module aims to provide students with:

- an introduction to a selection of poetic texts in English, representative of a range of genres and of periods;
- some of the critical skills and terminologies required to produce close textual ananlysis of poetry, through consideration of the technical features of English verse (line, stanza, rhyme, rhythm, and metre);
- an exploration of a range of critical and theoretical approaches to literature and culture.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	22	1.00	22.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			168.00
Total Contact hours			32.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

To include preparation and reading for each weekly seminar; additional reading from the indicative reading list; preparation of any unassessed tasks as required.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Seminar contribution
Two assessed essays

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1,500 words	25.00
Essay	1,500 words	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

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

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

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: 27/08/2008

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD