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Introduction to English Literature

Code: 106282 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
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

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

Teachers

Noelia Sánchez Campos
Francesca Blanch Serrat
Laia Puig Company
Bŕrbara Hernández González
Rory Mark Edgington

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this 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 and Contextualisation

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.

Competences

    English Studies
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values. 
  • Demonstrate skills to work autonomously and in teams to fulfil the planned objectives.
  • Identify and analyse the main currents, genres, works and authors in English and comparative literature.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Understand and produce written and spoken academic texts in English at an advanced proficient-user level (C1).
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources for the collection and organisation of information.
  • Use written and spoken English for academic and professional purposes, related to the study of linguistics, the philosophy of language, history, English culture and literature.
    English and Catalan Studies
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams with the aim of attaining the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Make correct use of written and spoken English for academic or professional purposes, related to the study of language, history, culture and literature.
  • Recognise the most significant periods, traditions, tendencies, authors and works of literature in the Catalan and English languages in their socio-historical context.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and Spanish Studies
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Correctly use written and oral English and Spanish for academic and professional purposes, related to the study of linguistics, history, culture and literature.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Recognize the most significant periods, traditions, trends, authors and works of literature in English and Spanish languages in their historical and social context
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and French Studies
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Carry out effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in different languages.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams with the aim of attaining the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Recognize the most significant periods, traditions, trends, authors and works of literature in English and French in their historical and social context.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
  • Use spoken English and French correctly for academic and professional purposes related to the study of linguistics, history, culture and literature.
    English and Classics Studies
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Recognize the most significant periods, traditions, trends, authors and works of Greek, Latin and English literatures in their historical and social context.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
  • Use written and spoken English correctly for academic and professional purposes related to the study of English linguistics, history, culture, and literature.

Learning Outcomes

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

Content

  • 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. 

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures, text-commentary and class debate 45 1.8 3, 1, 7, 8, 11, 16, 24, 21
Type: Supervised      
Class assessment, clearing up doubts, feedback on exercises 5 0.2 3, 1, 2, 20, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 16, 23, 22, 24, 25, 21
Type: Autonomous      
Homework, reading, studying 60 2.4 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 18, 16, 23, 22, 24, 25, 26, 21

  • 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 two Online Library Courses: MLA and Zotero
  • 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

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Crafting thesis statements (short stories) 15% 6 0.24 3, 1, 2, 20, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 21
Integrating critical sources into a literary commentary (play) 20% 8 0.32 3, 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 6, 23, 22, 24, 21
Online library course (MLA and Zotero) 5% 2 0.08 13, 14
Poetry analysis (poetry) 20% 8 0.32 3, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 16, 17, 23, 22, 24, 25, 26, 21
Writing a critical essay (novel) 40% 16 0.64 3, 1, 2, 20, 4, 5, 7, 19, 8, 13, 14, 23, 22, 24, 25, 26, 21

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT FOR THIS COURSE IS BASED ON:

  • 5 Evaluated items  = 100% of total course mark
    • Item 1 (15%)= Thesis Statements (short stories)  
    • Item 2 (20%)= Integrating Secondary Sources into a Literary Commentary (play)
    • Item 3 (40%)= Critical Essay (novel) 
    • Item 4 (20%)= Poetry analysis (poems) 
    • Item 5 (5%)= Online Library Courses (MLA and Zotero)

Please, note:

  • All evaluation dates will be confirmed at the beginning of the semester.
  • All the 4 assignments are COMPULSORY. Any unsubmitted 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:

  • Students have a right to review their exercises with the teacher in a personal tutorial. On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle)of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place. 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 and passed at least TWO of the assignments given throughout the course (excluding the library course) may pass.
  • In order to reassess, students are required to have a final average exam mark between 3,5 and 4,9 as well as to have passed 2 of the four written assignments. The reassessment consists of a two-hour written exam on matters related to the subject. The exam is awarded a Pass/Fail mark and the maximum possible final mark is a 5. 
  • Evaluation activities excluded from reassessment: Online library course.

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.

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:

  • Cavanagh, Dermot; Alan Gillis, Michelle Keown, James Loxley, Randall Stevenson (eds.),  The Edinburgh Introduction to Studying English Literature. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010. 248 pages, ISBN 13: 9780748640256 ISBN 10: 0748640258.

  • Furniss, Tom & Michael Bath, Reading Poetry: An Introduction. Longman Inc., 1996. ISBN-13: 978-0133552980. ISBN-10: 0133552985

  • Mays, Kelly J, The Norton Introduction to English Literature, 2024.

  • Owen David and Cristina Pividori. Theoretically Speaking About Literature Understanding Theory in the Study of LiteraryWorks. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars 2021. 

  • Phelan, Jon, Literature and Understanding: The Value of a Close Reading of Literary Texts, 2020.

  • Thomas, C. Foster, How to Read Literature like a Professor Revised Edition: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines.  HarperCollins Publishers Inc; Edition: Revised ed. ISBN-13: 978-0062301673 ISBN-10: 9780062301673 

Literature in context:

  • Caserio, R. (Ed.). (2009). The Cambridge Companion to the Twentieth-Century English Novel (Cambridge Companions to Literature). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CCOL9780521884167

  • Kennedy, Sue and Jane Thomas, British Women's Writing, 1930 to 1960: Between the Waves, 2023.

  • Todd, Selina. Tastes of Honey: The Making of Shelagh Delaney and a Cultural Revolution, Vintage Publishing, 2021.

  • Thody, Phillip, Twentieth-century Literature: Critical Issues and Themes. MacMillan Press, 1996. ISBN-13: 978-0333615348 ISBN-10: 0333615344

 

Secondary sources:

  • Wikipedia, SparkNotes, AI, and similar websites 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:

  • This course uses the MLA 9th edition citation style. The MLA usage manual is available in the library: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research papers. MLA Handbook. Ninth edition, The Modern Language Association of America, 2021.
  • In addition, students have at their disposal a preparation course to cite in this style (Moodle) as well as an introductory course to the use of Zotero.

Software

None.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 3 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 4 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 3 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 4 English second semester morning-mixed