| 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. Kate McClune |
| 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?
What is the difference between an outlaw and a terrorist, a rebel and a traitor? This unit examines literary and cultural preoccupations with those who function outside the law from the thirteenth century to the present day, examining characters like Robin Hood and William Wallace against the background of contemporary definitions of betrayal and loyalty. Using contemporary documents (legal, historical, newspapers), our reading of the texts interrogate the concept of outlawry, examining it from literary, legal, gendered, and historical perspectives. The unit encourages us to think about complex distinctions between outlaws, freedom fighters, and terrorists in literary texts and touches on topics including rebellion, treason, righteous resistance and localised warfare.
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.
An Overview of Content
This is a transhistorical unit that examines depictions of outlaws in works from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. It covers a wide range of genres, languages, and medias, including ballads, romances, novels, newspapers, legal codes, and film adaptations. Over the course of the term, students will examine developing depictions of outlaws and the changes in their legal status, thinking about the ways in which historical and cultural biases can shape our perceptions of law-breaking.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
On completion of the unit, students will have an increased understanding of theoretical and legal frameworks around crime and treason, alongside an awareness of changes in perspective and expectation around what it is to be an outlaw. Students will refine their understanding of key academic skills and disciplines (close reading/comparative analysis/contextual analysis/assessment of evidence) in ways that connect to the wider degree programme and which consolidate the transferrable skills they have learned during the course of their degree.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
1 Engage in independent research to support analysis of a wide range of texts related to outlawry
2. Apply a critical understanding of political, historical, and cultural contexts to this body of literature
3. Evaluate and deploy evidence to articulate cogent arguments about the perception of outlawry in a range of texts
4. Demonstrate skills in textual analysis, argumentation, critical interpretation, presentation and academic writing appropriate to level H/6
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.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will be given the opportunity to submit an outline of your final essay and receive formative feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Essay, 3,500 words (100%) [ILOs 1-4]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the year. 
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.
