And one more course...

We practically ended last year with a post presenting several Brontë courses for the first months of 2006. This one was not present. Just starting Wednesday January 11, so... hurry up!

The Brontës: collective genius
Tutor: Maureen Fox
University of Reading, UK

This course aims to introduce students to the work of the Brontes and to promote interest in and understanding of the work of Anne, Emily and Charlotte. The novels of the Bronte sisters are still important and popular landmarks in the literary landscape. We will discuss these novels and consider the reasons for their continuing appeal, paying particular attention to structure and the authors' skill in evoking atmosphere and character. The course also invites a sharing of experiences by those who have already enjoyed the novels and who would now like to consolidate their understanding by exploring and analysing the texts in more detail.

We will look at the background of the Bronte family in order to place their adult work in its historical and personal context. We will discuss in detail some of the sisters' novels and try to identify what it is about their work that still so strongly appeals to readers, examining their use of language and their skills in characterisation and narrative. We shall also explore some of the reasons why their novels seem so suited to adaptation for both the large and small screen

By the end of the course students should be able to:
Analyse and evaluate narrative, description and characterisation in the Brontes' novels
Identify how the authors use language to produce a response
Assess reasons for the continued popularity of the novels

Teaching methods for literature and film courses usually consist of a mixture of talks by the tutor, group discussion, and presentations by group members. If appropriate, excerpts from television or film adaptations of texts may be shown. Students are encouraged to complete an accreditation task, which typically might be by a short (500 word) essay, a presentation to the group, or the completion of a learning diary.

Recommended reading:Any edition of Jane Eyre and The Professor by Charlotte Bronte, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte


Categories: Scholar