ENG30400 Talking Animals

Academic Year 2018/2019

In this option, we will look at the tradition of the Aesopian fable in Medieval and Post-Medieval times. The texts we will study include Chaucer's Nun's Priest's and Manciple's Tales, Henryson's Moral Fables, Thurber's Fables in our Time. It is hoped that students will realise that the fable, long regarded as reading suitable only for children, has frequently been used by writers to reflect on the socio-political anxieties of his or her time. We will address questions about the relationship between speech and action, the narrative and the moral, the use of animals in story form, the relationship between animals and humans in the literature of this module. Of particular interest, is the question of fable form and the processes involved in adapting, rewriting and translating stories for different audiences, in different languages and with different purposes. Students will be expected to write on at least one Medieval text in their final essay.

PLEASE NOTE that the School of English, Drama and Film reserves the right to withdraw modules in the period up to and including the first week of the teaching semester.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module the student will be able to:
demonstrate a critical understanding of the fable genre
identify and engage in key critical and theoretical debates
appreciate the nuance, challenges and delight of adapting a familiar form for a different audience in later periods
identify and consider the significant political, social and cultural contexts in which a number of these fables were produced
research, plan, write, edit and submit an essay with a coherent and cogent argument
engage in classroom discussion

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

12
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

52
Total

100
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Before registering for this module, students must have completed TWO of the Level 2 modules listed.

Learning Recommendations:

Students should have had some basic introduction to reading Medieval English literature or its European equivalent.



 
Description % of Final Grade Timing
Essay: 3000 word essay

75

 Coursework (End of Trimester)
Continuous Assessment: Attendance and contribution

25

 Varies over the Trimester

Compensation

This module is not passable by compensation

Resit Opportunities

In-semester assessment

Remediation

Students who fail this module will need to repeat or resit the module depending on the availability of the module in the following semester. If you have failed, please contact the Academic Support Officer for information on how to remediate the module. If you are taking this module as an option or an elective, you may be able to substitute another module. Check with your Programme Office if this is possible.