Aims

To introduce students to some of the major works of British fiction written between 1945-present.
To explore the postwar representation of the nation.
To expose the extent to which the narration of nation has been constituted by those at its margins (e.g. migrants, Celts and queers).
To gain an awareness of how British fiction handles postwar and postimperial decline.
To give students a sense of the social, political and historical contexts of postwar British fiction, from consensus politics, to Thatcherism, to globalisation and migration.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus covers the set literary texts in chronological order from Lucky Jim (1954) to On Chesil Beach (2008).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce students to the knowledge outcomes. Seminars develop this knowledge in dialogue with others. Workshops will have a practical element testing core skills such as close reading and comparative study. Students will have the opportunity to complete a mock exam paper on which the student receives oral and written feedback.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam is open book with section b of the exam circulated in advance. Section A tests close reading skills. Section B tests the ability to compare two or more primary texts in terms of the wider debates of the course.