Scottish Literature MA
Scottish Literature: Theory and Criticism SCOTLIT4023
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Critical Studies
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2 (Alternate Years)
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course provides students with an introduction to, and an analytical survey of, literary theory and criticism in relation to Scottish literature. A variety of critical approaches are studied and a number of Scottish texts of different genres are considered.
Timetable
10 x 1 hour lectures and 10 x 1 hour seminars, as scheduled in MyCampus.
This is one of the Honours options in Scottish Literature and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ Critical exercise (1500 words) - 50%
■ Examination of 90 minutes duration - 50%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There are no alternatives to the Critical exercise (1500 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions)
■ There are no alternatives to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment.
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 
Main Assessment In: April/May
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ develop students' understanding of the history of Scottish literary criticism
■ develop an advanced awareness of literary theory in relation to Scottish literature
■ provide opportunities for students to apply selected theoretical approaches to Scottish literary texts of different genres
■ build graduate attributes such as confidence, independent and critical thinking, and ethical and social awareness.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ distinguish between literary criticism and critical theory
■ analyse problems relating to the application of historicist approaches to Scottish texts
■ explain the basic implications for a Scottish text of a number of theoretical approaches
■ describe the major movements in Scottish literary criticism from the 1880s to the present
■ apply the basic concepts of the theories discussed to a range of Scottish texts