D H Lawrence and E M Forster (10 credit points)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course will explore works by two great writers of fiction who were personally aquainted and made illuminating and provocative comments on each other’s work. Students will learn about the impact of E M Forster and D H Lawrence’s childhoods, social class, and education on their writing; and will also become acquainted with their theories about literature and the extent to which these shed light on their practice as writers. We will discover more about the two writers’ comparative struggles against what they perceived as repressive and hypocritical in the attitudes of their contemporaries, especially to social class and sex; the way travel and personal relationships enabled both to achieve a measure of sexual fulfilment and artistic integrity, which finds expression in their mature works of fiction.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No prior knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Biographical comparison of EM Forster and DH Lawrence with special emphasis on the development of sexuality and relationships with strong mother-figures. EM Forster, The Longest Journey (1907) and DH Lawrence, Sons and Lovers (1913).

2. Impact of awareness of social class distinctions in two short stories. EM Forster, The Eternal Moment and DH Lawrence, The Daughters of the Vicar.

3. The process of liberation in life and literature; the role of travel, especially to Italy. EM Forster, Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), and DH Lawrence, Twilight in Italy (1916), and poems: Snake, Bavarian Gentians.

4. Comparison of their literary theories: extracts from EM Forster, Aspects of the Novel (1924), and DH Lawrence's letters.

5. Achievement of personal and artistic integrity: EM Forster, Maurice (1914, not published till 1971), and DH Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928).

Teaching method(s)

Lecture based with class discussion.

Sources

Core Readings

Lawrence:

Sons and Lovers. London, Penguin (1948)
The Prussian Officer and Other Stories. London, Penguin (1945)
Lady Chatterley's Lover. London, Heinemann (1960).

Forster:

The Longest Journey. London, Penguin (1988).
Where Angels Fear to Tread. London, Arnold (1975).
Maurice. London, Penguin (1977).
Collected Short Stories. London, Penguin (1954).

Web Sources

www.mss.library.nottingham.ac.uk/dhl_home.html

http://www.musicandmeaning.com/forster/links.html

Class Handouts

Extracts from EM Forster's Aspects of the Novel. Extracts from DH Lawrence's letters and Studies in Classic American Literature. Extracts from Lawrence's Twilight in Italy. Poems by Lawrence.

Assessments

10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk 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.