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Introduction to English Literature

Code: 106282
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
English Studies FB 1
English and Catalan Studies FB 1
English and Spanish Studies FB 1
English and French Studies FB 1
English and Classics Studies FB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Francesca Blanch Serrat
Email :
francesca.blanch@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Francesca Blanch Serrat
Rory Edgington
Laia Puig Company

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Students must remember and apply the knowledge they acquired in the first-year course Cultural History of the British Isles, if they have already taken it. Additionally, students must read the assigned readings for this course. If a student does not complete the assigned readings, it will negatively impact their evaluation.

Students are required to have an initial level of English C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. This means they should be able to understand the main ideas of both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization, which in this case is literature.

Additionally, students should be able to interact with native speakers fluently and spontaneously without much effort. They should also produce clear and detailed argumentative texts expressing opinions. The expected final level for students to achieve is C1.

Objectives

The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to the various genres and leading authors of modern and contemporary English literature. This will be achieved through the reading, analysis, and in-class discussion of a selection of literary texts and their associated criticism. The course primarily focuses on enhancing students' skills in reading, interpreting a variety of text forms, and crafting critical essays. The knowledge and skills gained from this course are crucial for tackling subsequent subjects in English Literature.

Upon completion of this course, students will have developed the abilities to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the key themes and concerns in twentieth and twenty first-century English literature.
  • Exhibit strong comprehension in reading contemporary English literary texts.
  • Craft basic literary criticism, such as writing thesis statements, integrating secondary sources into the paragraph and writing short essays.
  • Effectively utilize the resources of any university library for English Literature-related research.
  • Articulate an informed evaluation of any literary texts in English they may encounter in their reading.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the topics related to the study of literature and its methods of analysis.
  2. Use the English language with appropriate expression (correctness, fluency, pronunciation, communicative strategies) in both formal (presentations, debates, formal interactions) and informal (conversational) contexts, at proficient-user level C1.
  3. Express oneself in English, orally and in writing, in an academic register, using terminology appropriate to the study of distinct genres of modern and contemporary English literature.
  4. Write short argumentative essays or textual commentaries in English on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature.
  5. Give oral presentations in English on topics related to nineteenth-and twentieth-century English literature.
  6. Participate in face-to-face and virtual debates in English on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature.
  7. Analyse and interpret (in an introductory way) modern and contemporary literary texts in English.
  8. Distinguish principal ideas from secondary ideas and synthesise their content in modern and contemporary literary texts in English.
  9. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures governing English literature.
  10. Applying the acquired scientific and work planning methodologies to the research in English.
  11. Locate and organise relevant English-language information available on the Internet, through databases and in libraries.
  12. Demonstrate knowledge of topics related to the study of literature and its methods of analysis.
  13. Write short argumentative essays or textual commentaries in English at Advanced User level (C1) on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature.
  14. Give oral presentations in English at Advanced User level (C1) on topics related to nineteenth-and twentieth-century English literature.
  15. Participate in face-to-face and virtual debates in Englishat Advanced User level (C1) on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature.
  16. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.
  17. Participate in face-to-face and virtual debates in English on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).
  18. Give oral presentations in English on topics related to nineteenth-and twentieth-century English literature at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).
  19. Write short argumentative essays or textual commentaries in English on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).
  20. Substantiate, understand and explain the diversity of ethical and aesthetic values at different times in our history and culture.
  21. Locate and organise relevant English-language information available on the internet, databases and libraries, and apply this to work and/or research environments.
  22. Preparing an oral and written discourse in the corresponding language in a proper and organized way.
  23. Write short argumentative essays or textual commentaries in English at an advanced proficient-user level (C1) on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature.
  24. Give oral presentations in English at an advanced proficient-user level (C1), on topics related to nineteenth-and twentieth-century English literature.
  25. Participate in face-to-face and virtual debates in English at an advanced proficient-user level (C1), on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature.
  26. Develop effective written work and oral presentations and adapted to the appropriate register.
  27. Write short argumentative essays or textual commentaries in English on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).
  28. Give oral presentations in English on topics related to nineteenth-and twentieth-century English literature at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).
  29. Participate in face-to-face and virtual debates in English on topics related to modern and contemporary English literature at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).

Contents


  • UNIT 1. Short Stories: This unit introduces literary theory and focuses on the basic features of the short story form. We will analyse three representative short stories from the Modernist era, providing an understanding of the early 20th-century Modernist movement.

  • UNIT 2. Play: This unit examines the form of drama, with an emphasis on theatre. We will analyse a play from the war and post-war period  (1940s to 1960s), highlighting the sociocultural aspects of this era.

  • UNIT 3. Novel: In this unit, we explore the novel form, focusing on an analysis of one novel representative of Postmodernism from the 1980s. This will provide a perspective on the cultural and literary shift towards the end of the 20th century.

  • UNIT 4. Poetry: This unit explores the basic features of poetry. We will analyse a selection of 20th and 21st century poems that contribute to an understanding of the evolution and development of poetic forms and themes over these two centuries. This analysis will provide insights into how social changes, cultural shifts, and differing literary movements have influenced the content and style of poetry. 

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Lectures, text-commentary and class debate 45 1.8
Class assessment, clearing up doubts, feedback on exercises 5 0.2
Homework, reading, studying 60 2.4
  • Lectures
  • Commentary on Texts
  • Class Debates
  • Crafting Thesis Statements
  • Integration of Critical Sources into Texts
  • Composition of Analytical Critical Essays
  • Thorough Reading and Interpretation of Critical Sources
  • Completion of Online Library Courses.
  • Personalized Tutorials

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
In-class written assignment (short stories) 15% 6 0.24 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 16
Online library course 5% 2 0.08 10, 11
Critical essay with secondary sources (novel) 40% 16 0.64 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16
In-class written assignment (play) 20% 8 0.32 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19
In-class written assignment (poetry) 20% 8 0.32 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT FOR THIS COURSE IS BASED ON:

  • 5 Evaluated items = 100% of total course mark
  • Item 1 (15%)= In-class written assignment about the short stories
  • Item 2 (20%)= In-class written assignment about the play
  • Item 3 (40%)= In-class critical essay with secondary sources (novel)
  • Item 4 (20%)= In-class written assignment about poetry
  • Item 5 (5%)= Online Library Courses


Please, note:

  • All evaluation dates will be confirmed at the beginning of the semester.
  • All the 4 assignments (all except the library course) are COMPULSORY. Any not submitted exercise will be awarded a 0. Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.
  • This subject does not incorporate the single-assessment option.
  • Important note for exchange students (Erasmus, etc.) on exams and other tests: Erasmus students who request to bring forward an exam or any other type of assessment activity must present the teacher with an official document from their home university justifying their request
  • The student’s command of English will be taken into account when marking all exercises and for the final mark. It will count as 25% of this mark for all the exercises and will be assessed as follows: Grammar (morphology and syntax): 30%; Vocabulary (accuracy and variety): 15%; Consistency (among sentences and paragraphs): 15%; Organization (sound argumentation of ideas): 20%; Style (expression and register): 15%; Spelling: 5%.


REVIEWING PROCEDURE:

  • Feedback and grades will be returned within a maximum of three weeks.
  • Students have a right to review their exercises with the teacher in a personal tutorial. At the time of each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform students through Moodle of the procedure and date for reviewing grades. The student loses this right if they fail to collect the exercise/exam within the period announced by the teacher.


REQUIREMENTS TO PASS:

  • The minimum pass mark for the whole subject is 5.
  • Item 5 will only be considered towards the final mark once the minimum pass mark is met.
  • Only students who have completed the continuous assessment of the assignments given throughout the course (excluding the library course) may pass.
  • A final continuous assessment grade of 4.9 is rounded up to 5, and the student does not have to undergo reassessment.
  • The final average grade will be communicated to students (through Moodle) at least 72 hours before the reassessment test.
  • In order to reassess, students are required to have a final average exam mark between 3,5 and 4,9.
  • The reassessment consists of a two-hour written exam on matters related to the subject.
  • Evaluation activities excluded from reassessment: Online library course. Evaluation activities included: In-class written assignment about the short stories, in-class written assignment about the play, in-class critical essay with secondary sources (novel), in-class written assignment about poetry (95%).



USE OF AI AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES:

  • This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
  • Other irregularities can refer, for instance, to copying in an exam or copying from sources without indicating authorship. Similarly, these evaluation activities will not be re-assessed.
  • In case of multiple irregularities, the mark awarded will be 0 for the whole subject.

Bibliography

We strongly recommend students to purchase the play and the novel prior to the commencement of the course.

  • UNIT 1: Short Story The short stories for this unit will be posted on Moodle at the beginning of the course. They include: Katherine Mansfield's “Bliss” (1918); James Joyce's “The Sisters” (1914); and Virginia Woolf, “Kew Gardens” (1919).
  • UNIT 2: The Play A Taste of Honey, Shelagh Delaney (Author), Hannah Simpson (Volume Editor), Bloomsbury, 2025. ISBN: 9781350443679.
  • UNIT 3: The Novel Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day. London: Faber and Faber, 2010. ISBN-10: 9780571258246. ISBN-13‏ .978-0571258246
  • UNIT 4: Poetry A collection of poems will be uploaded on Moodle at the beginning of the course.


Recommended Reading:

How to analyse, read, and write:


Literature en context:


Secondary sources:

  • Wikipedia, SparkNotes, AI, and other websites, as well as articles that have not been through a peer-review process, are not considered valid secondary sources. It is recommended that students use the library, JSTOR, Google Scholar or MUSE for the search of secondary sources.

Citing and formatting a bibliography:

Software

None.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 3 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 3 English second semester morning-mixed