Course Catalogue

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The 20th Century witnessed a global explosion of magazines, newspapers and books featuring short stories, the perfect 'fast' form to capture the modern age. This course charts the development of the short story as a literary art form during this tumultuous period, where stories are increasingly marked by experimentation with form and style. Through a series of talks and discussions, it will focus on the in-depth analysis of a range of short stories to help trace the extraordinary proliferation of new types, structures, themes and techniques during this time. Students will also learn the historical and literary context of these stories and explore their lasting impact on readers and writers to the present day.

Block 2

2 hours, 10 weeks

Tuesday 19:00-21:00

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Presentation (5 mins or 500-word scripted commentary) analysing the key literary features of one short story on the course reading list (25%) (ILO1)

Essay (1,500 words) comparing two other short stories on the course reading list with reference to their broader historical background and/or literary context (75%) (ILO2 and ILO3)

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to the key distinctive literary features of the short story form over the course of the 20th Century through close textual analysis of a range of notable examples.

■ Present students with information on their historical background and literary context 

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

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

■ Identify and describe some of the key literary features of the short story form over the course of the 20th Century.

■ Analyse and compare the literary characteristics of specific examples

■ Discuss the broader historical background and/or literary context of individual texts 

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