106-052 Gothic Fictions

Formerly available as 106-277/377. Students who have completed 106-277 or 106-377 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first year English, see Prerequisites.

This subject offers an introduction to the contexts, nature, form and literary children of Gothic fiction. Students should become familiar with the formal conventions and devices of Gothic fiction in relation to the social, cultural and political contexts in which it first appeared (the late 18th century) and some of the ways in which the genre is reworked in the early 19th century, Victorian England, modernism and postmodernism. Students will encounter changing conceptions of the heroine of sensibility, the paternal protector, the family, patriarchal and paternal structures of authority, horror, terror, monstrosity, the individual and sexuality.

• develop social, ethical and cultural understanding;

• develop critical, creative and theoretical thinking;

• develop information management and information literacy;

• develop intelligent and effective communication of knowledge and ideas;

• develop skills in written communication.

An essay of 1500 words 40% (due mid-semester) and an essay of 2500 words 60% (due at the end of semester).

A subject reader will be available.

• J Austen, Northanger Abbey. ed. Claire Grogan (Norton Critical Edition).
• R L Stevenson, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. World's Classics, OUP.
• M Lewis, The Monk. World's Classics, OUP.
• Edgar Allan Poe, The Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe. ed. G. R. Thompson (Norton Critical Edition).
• A Radcliffe, The Italian. OUP.
• A Rice, Interview with the Vampire. Penguin.
• M Shelley, Frankenstein. ed. Paul Hunter (Norton Critical Edition).
• B Stoker, Dracula. ed. Auerbach and Skal (Norton Critical Edition).
• F F Coppola, Bram Stoker's Dracula. (Film).
• F W Murnau, Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauns. (Film).
• J Whale, Frankenstein. (Film).
• J Whale, Bride of Frankenstein. (Film).
• J Whedon, Buffy. (selected episodes).