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Literature and Theatre

The Modern Scottish Short Story (Online)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

A look at the rich possibilities available in the modern Scottish short story, the course will look at how a small country can nevertheless produce big literature. From Alasdair Gray to James Kelman, from Ian Crichton Smith to Douglas Dunn, we’ll examine the interior and exterior landscape that happens to be contemporary Scottish writing.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Students will need to be able to confidently use videoconferencing software and be comfortable with using websites.

Special Information

In order to participate in this course, you will need access to a computer with a speaker and an internet connection.

Content of Course

1. Douglas Dunn, The Canoes.

2. Alasdair Gray, Five Letters from an Eastern Empire.

3. Neil Gunn, The Moor.

4. James Kelman, Not Not While the Giro.

5. Brian McCabe, Not About the Kids.

6. Bernard McLaverty, A Time to Dance.

7. George Mackay Brown, Celia.

8. Agnes Owens, When Shankland Comes.

9. Ian Crichton Smith, Murdo.

10. Muriel Spark, Black Madonna.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be delivered via live online sessions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Discuss the rich possibilities in the short story;

  • Analyse the language used in Scottish fiction;

  • Recognize the importance of the short story in Scottish literature;

  • Discuss texts confidently.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

  • McDougall, Carl, 1989 The Devil and The Giro Edinburgh: Canongate

  • Kravitz, Peter, 1997 The Picador Book of Contemporary Scottish Fiction London: Picador

Recommended:

  • Bold, Alan, 1983 Modern Scottish Literature London: Longman

  • Leitch, Vincent B.2001 The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism New York: Norton

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.