Course Catalogue

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This course uses Ulysses to introduce students to the works of James Joyce. Placing Ulysses within its literary, political and historical contexts, the course also serves as an introduction to Irish literature and Modernism. We will explore a wide range of issues, including Joyce's development of innovative narrative techniques, depiction of sex, his engagement with literary politics in Ireland, and the broader background of Ireland's relationship to the British Empire

10 seminars and 10 lectures across ten weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Literature and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Successful completion of Junior Honours English Literature, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

ENGLIT4010  James Joyce

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Presentation 15%  

■ Seminar Contribution 5% 

■ Close reading exercise (1,500 words): 30%  

■ Essay (2,500 words): 50% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ Recorded presentation.  One-to-one presentation / discussion/Q&A with staff (where presentation would normally be in class) 

■ Written self-evaluation reflecting on seminar contribution or Written response to seminar material in advance or after seminar as alternative to seminar contribution.

■ There are no alternatives to the Close reading exercise (1,500 words), but flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the Essay (2,500 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ engage in detail with James Joyce's Modernist epic, Ulysses

■ encounter a range of other work by James Joyce, including criticism, drama and poetry

■ analyse the formal and stylistic detail of Joyce's writing

■ consider Joyce's work from a variety of critical perspectives

■ place Joyce's writings in their literary, political and historical contexts

■ examine the impact and reception of Joyce's work.

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

■ articulate a detailed knowledge of James Joyce Ulysses 

■ locate Ulysses and other writings by James Joyce in wider historical and political contexts

■ cite and explain key critical concepts relating to Joyce's work and its contexts as part of a broader argument

■ apply formal and analytical skills in writing about Ulysses and its contexts

■ communicate responses to the material studied on the course both orally and in written form through coherent and sustained argument.

■ demonstrate resilience and time management through effectively planning, undertaking and submitting coursework.