Module overview
The Regency era, from around 1795 to 1820, saw the French Revolution, more than twenty years of global warfare, the expansion of the British empire and rapid industrialisation and social change in Britain itself. It was in this period that the novel became the dominant genre in the literary marketplace, and this module will examine ways in which works of fiction engaged with contemporary transformations with particular emphasis on the most celebrated novelist of the period, Jane Austen. The module will include works by bestselling authors who influenced Austen, notably Frances Burney and Ann Radcliffe, and rivals such as Maria Edgeworth and Walter Scott. We will also consider the topical nature of Regency crazes for the Gothic and the national tale, and the origins of the ‘Condition of England’ novel.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Key concepts and recent developments in historical and genre criticism
- Changes in writing, publishing and reading during the Regency era, through the study of some of the best-selling works of the period
- Literary innovation in relation to political and social contexts
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Manage your time effectively to meet deadlines
- Evaluate a particular work in relation to general theories on literary genre
- Engage in self-managed research
- Incorporate new methods for analysing books and explore the issues raised individually and as part of a group
- Deliver an oral presentation in a clear and concise manner
- Link historical research and critical interpretation
Cognitive Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Combine an understanding of the historical period with critica interpretation of the novels
- Analyse works of fiction of the period in the context of social and political change
- Reflect on key concepts and recent developments in the history of the novel Evaluate the historical and cultural evidence provided by individual novels through comparison
Syllabus
This module offers a survey of the emergence of the novel as the dominant literary genre, in relation to national and global contexts. The focus of study will be the works of Jane Austen, alongside influential precursors such as Frances Burney and Ann Radcliffe, and rivals like Maria Edgeworth and Walter Scott. We will consider changes in publishing and in readership, the development of realism in the novel genre, and the phenomenon of popular subgenres, notably the Gothic and the national tale. There will be discussion of the principles of historical method in literary criticism, and you will be introduced to the use of rare books collections and archival material. From week to week there will be a changing focus on key aspects of the Regency period: political revolution and reaction, empire, global war, and economic and social transformation. There will be visit to the Chawton House Library for the purpose of studying a range of original editions, a unique opportunity made possible by the links between this rare books collection and University of Southampton. The element of advanced research skills in this module makes it an excellent bridge to postgraduate study. It will also be of particular interest to students considering a career in publishing or the media.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
- Lectures
- Tutor-led seminar discussion
- Small group work
- Guided visits to a rare books collection
Learning activities include
- Individual study
- Preparing and delivering a presentation
- Leading or actively participating in small-group discussions
- Archival research
This module includes a Learning Support Hour. This is a flexible weekly contact hour, designed to support and respond to the particular cohort taking the module from year to year. This hour will include (but not be limited to) activities such as language, theory and research skills classes; group work supervisions; assignment preparation and essay writing guidance; assignment consultations; feedback and feed-forward sessions.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 100 |
| Seminar | 20 |
| Tutorial | 2 |
| Wider reading or practice | 31 |
| Revision | 40 |
| Teaching | 10 |
| Follow-up work | 15 |
| Lecture | 20 |
| Completion of assessment task | 60 |
| Total study time | 298 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Resources. Module reading lists will be available on Blackboard, but primary texts are likely to include Jane Austen’s Emma (1816) and Persuasion (1818), and works by authors such as Fanny Burney, Ann Radcliffe, and Maria Edgeworth. Claire Tomalin and Park Honan’s biographies of Austen will give you a feel for the period.
Textbooks
Janet Todd, ed. (2005). Jane Austen in Context. Cambridge University Press.
William St Clair (2004). The Reading Nation in The Romantic Period. Cambridge University Press.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Timed Assignment | 30% |
| Essay proposal | 5% |
| Essay | 65% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External