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Literature and Theatre

Divine Decadence: Dark Fantasy in 19th-Century Fiction

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

Most readers see the 19th century as the age of the great realist novel. Yet the same era saw an explosion of fantasy, exploring the wildest realms of the imagination and the darkest depths of the human soul. We'll explore this 'other' tradition from the Romantics to the Decadents – with works by Coleridge, Hoffmann, Balzac, Gautier, D’Annunzio, Wilde, Gide and others. 

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge is required.

Content of Course

1. Flowers of Evil: The Romantic Revolt

Introduction to Romanticism. Poems by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake & Charles Baudelaire.

2. Unlocking Pandora’s Box

William Beckford, Vathek. Extract from Henry von Ofterdingen by Novalis.

3. Demons on the Brain

ETA Hoffmann, The Sandman, The Golden Pot and other tales.

4. Deadly Seductions

Honoré de Balzac, The Girl with the Golden Eyes & Sarrasine.

5. Androgynous Angels

Théophile Gautier, Mademoiselle de Maupin (I).

6.  A Life Beyond Gender

Théophile Gautier, Mademoiselle de Maupin (II).

7. Splendour and Decay

Gabriele D’Annunzio, Pleasure.

8. Artificial Paradise

Joris-Karl Huysmans, Against Nature.

9. The Fall of Narcissus

Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

10. Eros Reborn

André Gide, The Immoralist.

Teaching method(s)

Lecture and class discussion.

Learning outcomes

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

  • Identify the main themes of fantasy fiction;

  • Distinguish clearly between realist and fantasy writing;

  • Describe the role of fantasy writing in the wider cultural context of the 19th century;

  • Asssess the impact of 19th century fantasy on contemporary writing and popular culture.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

  • Balzac, Honoré de (2012) The Girl with the Golden Eyes & Sarrasine, London, Penguin Classics.

  • Beckford, William (2013) Vathek, London, Oxford World’s Classics.

  • D’Annunzio, Gabriele (2013) Pleasure, London, Penguin Classics.

  • Gautier, Théophile (2005) Mademoiselle de Maupin, London, Penguin Classics.

  • Gide, André (2000) The Immoralist, London, Penguin Modern Classics.                                                   

  • Hoffmann, E T A (2008) The Golden Pot and Other Tales, London, Oxford World’s Classics.

  • Huysmans, Joris-Karl (2003) Against Nature (A Rebours), London, Penguin Classics.

  • Novalis (1992) Henry von Ofterdingen, Prospect Heights, Waveland Press.

  • Wilde, Oscar (2003) The Picture of Dorian Gray, London, Penguin Classics.

Recommended:

  • Hustvedt, Asti (2006) The Decadent Reader – Fiction, Fantasy and Perversion from Fin-de-Siècle France, New York, Zone Books

  • Stableford, Brian (1990) The Dedalus Book of Decadence (Moral Ruins), London, Dedalus 

Class Handouts

Selected poems by William Blake, Charles Baudelaire, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and John Keats. Selected extracts from the above ‘recommended’ reading list as appropriate.

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.