Studying at York
British Science Fiction & Fantasy - ENG00079H
Module summary
From the 1890s British Science fiction and fantasy has consistently created texts that are the archetypes of the genre, inventing themes which are being reused and reinvented up to the present day. Films like Battle L.A. ultimately derive from H. G. Wells’ depiction of Martian invasion in The War of the Worlds, whilst the intricate fantasy world of Game of Thrones owes a great deal to the Middle Earth of Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings. This module will look at some of the shorter classics of the genres, such as H. G. Wells The War of the Worlds and The Island of Dr Moreau and C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Silver Chair. Though texts like the Lord of the Rings or the Harry Potter sequence are too long to set formally, students familiar with the books or films are welcome to throw these into the discussion!
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The aim of this module is to explore the social, political and aesthetic potentials of some classic SF texts and to engage with the intellectual and artistic scope of genres often regarded as escapist or immature.
Module learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, you should be able to:
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with underestimated genres.
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with a significant period in which these genres take on modern form.
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Evaluate key debates within the relevant critical fields dealing with the literary, historical, and cultural contexts of SF and Fantasy and be prepared to appreciate how these genres are being taken into new areas, especially by postcolonial writers.
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Produce independent arguments and ideas which demonstrate an advanced proficiency in critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
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You will be given the opportunity to submit a 1000 word formative essay for the module, which can feed into the 3000 word summative essay submitted at the end of the module.
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You will submit your essay to a Google Folder. It will be annotated and returned to you by your tutor within two weeks. Feedback on the essay will be uploaded to eVision.
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Your summative essay is submitted via the VLE by 12noon on Monday of week 1 of the following term. Feedback on your summative essay will be uploaded to eVision to meet the University’s marking deadlines
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 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
- For more information about the feedback you will receive for your work, see the department's Guide to Assessment
Indicative reading
- H G Wells
- The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine
- The Island of Dr Moreau, The World Set Free? Or ‘In The Days of the Comet ?
- J M Barrie, Kenneth Grahame
- Peter Pan [novel], The Wind in The Willows
- E M Forster, J R R Tolkien
- ‘The Machine Stops’, ‘Shire’ sections of Lord of the Rings. Chapter 1 of The Fellowship of the Ring and Chapter 8 of The Return of the King.
- C S Lewis
- The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Silver Chair
- John Wyndham, Brian Aldiss
- The Day of the Triffids, ‘Gesture of Remembrance’
- J G Ballard
- ‘Terminal Beach’, ‘Concrete Island’
- Nigel Kneale
- Quatermass and the Pit [film]