LT212-5-SP-CO:
Children's Fiction and the Turn to Young Adult Adventure

The details
2023/24
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
27 March 2019

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA Q300 English Literature,
BA Q303 English Literature (Including Placement Year),
BA Q320 English Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q321 English Literature (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module introduces the history of children's adventure stories, and explores the emergence of the multi-novel "Young Adult" genre that dominates bookshelves and literary conventions today. The module begins with the 18th century morality tale, and moves through the Victorian period of classic Children's literature, to culminate in a study of Lewis and Tolkien as founders of the modern form.

The module will explore how young readerships are constructed over time, and examine trends in adventure writing for young readers. The questions "what is an adventure?" And "what is special about young audiences?" will be addressed throughout the term.

In addition to thinking about the emergence of young adult literature as a genre in its own right, this module will examine the construction of narrative and voice in each text, as a means of examining the process of world-building in literary fiction.

Module aims

This module aims to foster students’ historical understanding of the Young Adult form, and to offer a detailed exploration of the genres of fantasy and the morality tale. The novels studied on this module are from both Europe and the USA, and students will have the opportunity to discuss trans-atlantic discrepancies and assonances across the history of children’s fiction. The literary character of writing for young readers will be explored in depth, giving students a concrete grounding in the background of contemporary popular fiction.

Module learning outcomes

After successful completion of the module, students should be able to:

1. Display a detailed knowledge of the history of the morality tale and of children’s adventure fiction.
2. Understand the key aspects of world-building in fantasy narratives.
3. Articulate the relationship between children’s and Young Adult fiction.
4. Understand and critically engage with the history of allegory as integral part of children’s fiction.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be taught by two-hour seminars, which include creative writing workshops. Students can find information about the content and format of each week on Moodle

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay plan or creative project outline (850 words)    30% 
Coursework   Critical Essay or Creative Assignment (2,500 words)    65% 
Practical   Participation mark    5% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Jordan Savage, email: jksava@essex.ac.uk.
tbc
LiFTS General Office – liftstt@essex.ac.uk Tel. 01206 872626

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

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