2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL3358 Written in Blood: The Vampire in Literature

20 creditsClass Size: 40

School of English

Module manager: Dr Nick Ray
Email: N.J.Ray@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will possess an increased knowledge of vampire literature and an enhanced awareness of some of the sexual, psychological and ideological preoccupations which have determined the evolution of the figure of the vampire from the late eighteenth century to the present. Students will also have augmented their critical and analytical skills with respect to different kinds of texts, including narrative poetry and film, and further developed their skills in essay writing and oral presentation.

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 plots a chronological course through some of the landmarks of vampire literature, from the late eighteenth century to the present day. Beginning with the first emergence of the literary figure of the vampire in the writing of the Romantic period, we will read texts by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats and John Polidori. We will go on to explore the ways in which the figure of the vampire has been developed and re-invented in response to historically specific political, sexual, racial and ideological concerns. Exploring the cultural significance of the vampire myth from a variety of critical perspectives - including Marxism, psychoanalysis and queer theory - we will examine classic texts by Edgar Allan Poe, Joseph Sheridan le Fanu and Bram Stoker, as well as key rewritings of vampirism by contemporary authors such as Poppy Z Brite, Angela Carter and Anne Rice. We will also be considering the cinematic 'afterlife' of Stoker's "Dracula", focusing on a selection of major adaptations including F.W. Murnau's silent classic "Nosferatu" and Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula".

One unassessed essay of 1700 words is required. This does not form part of the assessment for this module, but is a requirement and MUST be submitted. Students who fail to submit the unassessed essay will be awarded a maximum mark of 40 for the module (a bare Pass).

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Meetings	5	1.00	5.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			185.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Teaching will be through weekly seminars (10 x 1 hour) plus up to 5 additional hours (content to be determined by the module tutor). The 5 additional hours may include lectures, plenary sessions, film showings, or the return of unassessed/assessed essays.

Private Study: Reading, seminar preparation and essay writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contribution to seminars
1 x 1,700 word unassessed essay (submitted during Week 7 of the semester)

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000 words	100.00
Essay	One unassessed essay of 1700 words is required. This does not form part of the assessment for this module, but is a requirement and MUST be submitted. Students who fail to submit the unassessed essay will be awarded a maximum mark of 40 for the module (a bare Pass).	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

One unassessed essay of 1700 words is required. This does not form part of the assessment for this module, but is a requirement and MUST be submitted. Students who fail to submit the unassessed essay will be awarded a maximum mark of 40 for the module (a bare Pass).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2008

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