Course Catalogue

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This course analyses various depictions of "heroic women" in different cultural contexts and historical periods. It explores the notion of female heroism in contrast to male heroism, indicating major differences and similarities.

Lectures on Tuesday and Wednesday at 12pm; seminars on Thursday (choice of times) over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

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Essay (1,500 words) - 40%

Exam (90 minutes) open exam within 24 hours - 60%

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ analyse various depictions of "heroic women" in different cultural contexts and historical periods;

■ explore the notion of female heroism in contrast to male heroism, indicating major differences and similarities;

■ deal with women writers' responses to male writers' depictions of female protagonists;

■ apply the analytical skills students have gained to a wide range of problems which may confront them in different situations and contexts in later life;

■ explore the features of a number of literary/cultural forms, providing a framework of ideas and methodologies appropriate to specific genres, ideas which students will apply to the comparative study of texts.

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

■ discuss selected culturally-different texts in their historical and intellectual contexts;

■ analyse, compare and contrast various texts within a unified framework, focussing on one issue/theme/topic;

■ construct cogent arguments drawing on appropriate evidence and present them coherently in writing;

■ identify the key features of the genres studied and relate these as appropriate to the comparative study of the course texts.

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