| Unit name | Hero or traitor? Outlaws in Literature |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL30069 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Bateman |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
WHY IS THIS UNIT IMPORTANT?
This unit examines literary accounts of outlaws, rebels, terrorists and traitors from the thirteenth century to the present. We will begin with an introduction to well-known medieval outlaws including Robin Hood and William Wallace, and less prominent figures such as Fouke le Fitz Waryn. Later, we’ll compare more recent depictions of outlaws in the works of Joseph Conrad, Mohsin Hamid, and Doris Lessing, using contemporary documents (legal, historical, newspapers) to contextualise our reading. In addition to interrogating the notion of outlawry from its literary, legal, gendered, and historical perspectives, we will consider the complex distinction between outlaws, freedom fighters, and terrorists in literary texts. The unit will investigate a range of topics, including the nature of rebellion, betrayal, righteous resistance, and localised warfare. Finally, we will consider how outlaw figures are redeployed in later literature and cinema.
HOW DOES THIS UNIT FIT INTO YOUR PROGRAMME OF STUDY?
Specialisation units challenge and empower you to engage with specific elements of advanced literary study. Specialisation units include taught options, which are closely informed by the world-leading research of individual academic staff, as well as final-year dissertation units that will enable you to pursue your own research or creative interests. Specialisation units cultivate ambition and independent learning, and showcase the department’s wide-ranging and varied expertise.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. analyse and demonstrate knowledge of a diverse range of outlaw literature from a broad chronological period
2. apply a critical understanding of the political, historical, and cultural contexts that influence this body of literature
3. evaluate pertinent evidence to illustrate a cogent argument
4. demonstrate skills in textual analysis, argumentation, critical interpretation, presentation and academic writing appropriate to level H/6
5. engage in independent research
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including group discussion, research and writing activities, and peer dialogue. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation.
Students will be given the opportunity to submit a draft or outline of their final, summative essay of up to 1,500 words and to receive feedback on this.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ENGL30069).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
