Studying at York
Joyce's Ulysses - ENG00006I
- Department: English and Related Literature
- Module co-ordinator: Information currently unavailable
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
- See module specification for other years: 2022-23
Module summary
Ulysses is the most important novel of the twentieth century: the test case for every debate about the novel and its place in society, difficult art and public culture. Students will learn that it is also something quite different from what such debates might lead one to expect: a very funny book. And they will learn that it may not even be a single book at all, but several different books that have been juxtaposed together: a work of hyperbolic realism; a work of cunning symbolism; and a work concerned with the codes and systemic substitutions by which either could be constructed. Because it offers so many and such varied pleasures, it is likely to remain what it already is: not a work of extraordinary difficulty, but one of the most popular books every written.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Summer Term 2021-22 |
Module aims
- to introduce you to the most important novel of the twentieth century
- to introduce you to the critical debate surrounding the novel and the fault lines that divide various approaches to it
- to provide you with the pertinent historical, cultural, and social contexts that informed the novels production
- to enable you to develop skills in group work and presentation in relation to a clearly defined thematic focus
Module learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an informed understanding of and engagement with Ulysses and familiarity with the principal critical approaches that have been adopted towards it
- Examine relevant critical and cultural contexts, including its critical heritage and the place Ulysses has come to occupy in debates about the history of the novel, its development, and its readerships.
- Successfully manage a collaborative project, making use of digital tools where appropriate.
- Deliver a presentation, demonstrating proficient oral, written, performance, and/or digital skills
Indicative assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam Presentation |
N/A | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Reassessment Essay |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
- You will receive feedback on all assessed work within the University deadline, and will often receive it more quickly. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is designed to help you to improve your work, and the Department also offers you help in learning from your feedback. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further you can discuss it with your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours
Indicative reading
Apart from Ulysses and Don Giffords Ulysses Annotated, the reading list will vary from year to year; selections will be drawn from various critical essays typically centred on a single episode of the novel. You should also read Homer's The Odyssey.