Overview

‘This World’ investigates literature that is global in its perspective and immediate in its engagement with the concerns of its time. The module considers how writers from different periods and cultures reflect on their position in the world, how they develop a sense of the world beyond their own particular place, and how they frame relationships between cultures, for example through models of exploration, cooperation, exploitation, or power. ‘This World’ emerges from and offers imaginative insight into present-day concerns including economic and postcolonial exploitation, technological change, environmental crisis, and the role of culture at times of social / political change. By placing these concerns into historical context, this module enables students to identify ways in which literature informs relations between cultures, and develops our understanding of what it means to think globally.

The module's syllabus will be updated each year, but students can expect to read English-language literature from across the world which covers some of the following themes:

• place and identity
• postcolonial cultures
• relations between cultures
• technological change
• environmental crisis
• social / political change

Writers studied may vary from year to year, but are likely to include: Alice Walker, Ali Smith, Bhapsi Sidhwa, Joseph Conrad, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margery Kempe, Daniel Defoe, Francis Bacon, Elzabeth Gaskell.

Assessment Strategy

50-59% A Pass (C) candidate’s work will show many of the following qualities: •A satisfactory level of knowledge, analysis and expression. •Some familiarity with, and understanding of, relevant theoretical issues. •Generally sound organisation of argument, with some critical ability. •Accurate expression. •Competent use of quotation and references.

60-69% A candidate’s work reaching Merit will show many of the following qualities: •An advanced level of factual knowledge. •Significant [substantial] knowledge of relevant theories and types of analysis. •Some evidence of original thought. •The ability to organise and argue effectively, make balanced judgements, and demonstrate critical thought. •Fluent and accurate expression. •Competent use of quotation and references.

70% and above Typically, the work of a candidate reaching Distinction will show many of the following qualities: •Thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant theories and types of analysis. •Thorough knowledge of a range of sources and the capacity to engage these critically. •Introduction and discussion of original ideas. •Relevant, well-organised and sophisticated argument. •High ratio of analysis to exposition. •Maturity, clarity and cogency of expression. •Excellent handling of quotation and references.

Learning Outcomes

• Appraise the complex relationship between contemporary concerns - e.g. economic and postcolonial exploitation, technological change, environmental crisis, and the role of culture at times of social / political change - and their representation in literature.

• Assess the ways in which literature develops in readers a sense of the world beyond their own particular place, and how it frames relationships between cultures.

• Critically compare the ways in which a range of literary texts addresses some of the immediate concerns and challenges of their time.

• Interpret and evaluate - through appropriate secondary reading - key formal practices in writing that reflects on its position in the world, and that develops a sense of the world beyond its own particular place.