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Literature and Theatre

Looking at Literary Prizes: 2005 (10 credit points)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

Students on this course will read five novels which were awarded literary prizes in 2005. Through mini-lectures and seminar discussion, students will explore the key themes and stylistic characteristics of each novel and develop skills in critical analysis, using and interpreting secondary reading, and writing an academic piece of work. Students will engage with the texts through the close-reading of selected excerpts, in a supportive tutorial atmosphere.

Course Details

Content of Course

1. The Orange Prize: Shriver’s exploration of motherhood. Text: Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk about Kevin.

2. Pulitzer Prize: An American incentive for excellence. Text: Marilynne Robinson, Gilead.

3. James Tait Black Memorial Prize: Britain’s oldest literary prize. Text: Ian McEwan, Saturday.

4. The Faber Prize: Honouring young writers. Text: David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.

5. The Whitbread Prize: Readability and complexity. Text: Ali Smith, The Accidental.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Articulate an understanding of issues such as readability, literary value, commercialism and marketing, that influence the awarding of literary prizes;

  • Evaluate, compare and contrast prize-winning fiction of 2005, demonstrating knowledge of linguistic, literary, cultural and political contexts;

  • Construct original, clear and coherent arguments, using recognised critical terminology;

  • Assess and evaluate criticism from non-literary sources such as journalism, of prize-winning literary texts.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

  • Shriver, Lionel. 2010. We Need to Talk about Kevin. London: Serpent's Tale.

  • Robinson, Marilynne. 2006. Gilead. London: Virago.

  • McEwan, Ian. 2006. Saturday. London: Vintage.

  • Mitchell, David. 2014. Cloud Atlas. London: Sceptre.

  • Smith, Ali. 2006. The Accidental. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Recommended:

  • Mullan, John, 2008. How Novels Work. Oxford: OUP.

  • Roberts, Gillian, 2011. Prizing Literature. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

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 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.