Second and third year undergraduate courses (Half units)

London’s History Through Literature

HT52089A/HT53089A

Course outline

The course examines London’s history through the work of writers who have lived in London, who have written about the city, or who have used London as the background or setting for their work. As well as secondary literature on the city’s development, there will be a range of primary texts from Shakespeare to Orwell. By the end of term, students will have a good knowledge of London’s history, and appreciation of the works of a number of important writers, a sense of different historical periods, and a knowledge of the variety of locations that go to make up the textual map of London.

Learning outcomes

LEVEL 2

Students will demonstrate understanding of London’s history through literature. In addition, students will acquire knowledge of the relevant historiographical literature and be able to evaluate critically select primary written and visual sources of the period. Students will also be given the opportunity both through course work and a dissertation to form and present their own critical arguments. Guidance will be given to enable students to express their ideas in a clear and accessible prose style.

LEVEL 3

Students will acquire advanced knowledge and understanding of London’s history through literature. In addition, students will acquire a detailed knowledge of the relevant historiographical literature. Moreover, students will develop their capacity for independent thought and ability to express ideas in a clear and accessible prose style, both in seminar presentations and essays.

Method of assessment

Students will be required to submit one piece of course work during the term. This may be the seminar presentation, properly written up. The course is examined by a 4000 word essay. All work should preferably be typed.

Preliminary reading

William Shakespeare, Richard III (1593-94?)
Ben Jonson, The Alchemist (1610) and Bartholomew Fair (1614)
Samuel Pepys, Diary (1660-1669) [selections]
John Gay, The Beggar’s Opera (1728)
James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1799) [selections]
Thomas De Qunicy, Confessions of an English Opium Eater (1821)
Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor (1849-50) [selections]
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway (1925)
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936) and 1984 (1949)