Course Catalogue

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Gothic horror writing continues to be a popular form in the 21st Century inspiring film and TV adaptions, online publishing and cult followings on social media. It both probes contemporary concerns and draws on a wealth of cultural history. But what are the common literary features of gothic horror writing today, if any? How are we scared, why and what role does it play? This brief course explores the development of gothic horror literature over the course of the 21st century so far. Through a series of talks and discussions, it will provide an in-depth analysis of a selection of recent texts to help chart the diversity of styles, structures, themes and techniques during this time. Students will discuss the recent social and literary context of these stories, plus explore their abiding historical connections.

Block 3

2 hours, 5 weeks

Weeks 1-5

Tuesday, 19:00-21:00

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Presentation (7 mins or 750 words scripted commentary) comparing the literary features of two of the texts examined on the course with reference to their broader social and/or literary context (100%).

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to some key literary features of gothic horror writing in 21st Century through close textual analysis of a range of notable examples

■ Present students with the social and literary context of the texts under discussion

■ Provide students with the opportunity to discuss their own engagement with these texts

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Describe and compare the key literary characteristics of specific texts examined on the course

■ Discuss their broader social and/or literary context

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.