Biography and British Social History 1870-1939 3301-ZJ-LK002
An analysis of the relationship between social and cultural developments in Britain and individual life stories on the basis of selected biographical texts of a variety of kinds (autobiography, diaries, letters, fictional autobiography, biography). Themes examined include: traditional rural lifestyles and their disappearance, the influence of urbanisation and changing patterns of urban life, changing views on and practices in education, developments in material culture and their influence on social organisation, changes in family patterns and relationships, the genesis and development of mass culture, the first world war and its social impact in Britain, social and political ideas and behaviour, growth of ethnic and other subcultures, British attitudes to the outside world.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
The graduate has in-depth familiarity with:
- K_W01 advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and region studies, within their chosen specialization (and educational path)
- K_W04 concepts and principles concerning the protection of intellectual property and copyright
Abilities
The graduate is able to:
- K_U01 apply the advanced terminology, theories and research methods of literary studies and culture and religion studies to solve complex and original research problems in accordance with his/her chosen specialization (and educational path)
- K_U04 apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law
Social competences
The graduate is ready to:
- K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources
- K_K02 recognize the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical problems; consult experts when required.
Assessment criteria
Continual assessment based on attendance and participation in class discussion [20% of overall mark] and submission of an essay: a critical assessment of an agreed life-writing text, 1,000-1,500 words [80% of overall mark], marked on the basis of the student’s knowledge about forms of biographical writing, English social history in the relevant period and evidence of an ability to form independent judgements about social developments.
Bibliography
Texts which may be discussed include:
Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth, 1933 (Testament of Friendship, 1940; Testament of Experience, 1957).
Patrick Leigh Fermor, A Time of Gifts, 1977.
Margaret Forster, Hidden Lives, A Family Memoir, 1995.
J. A. Froude, Reminiscences of Carlyle, 1881.
R. Gittings, The Nature of Biography, 1978.
Ralph Glasser, Growing up in the Gorbals, 1986 (Gorbals Boy at Oxford, 1988; Gorbals Voices, Silent Songs, 1990).
G. and W. Grossmith, The Diary of a Nobody, 1892.
Richard Hoggart, An Imagined Life, Life and Times 1959-1991, 1993.
Laurie Lee, Cider with Rosie, 1959
Nigel Nicolson, Portrait of a Marriage, 1973.
Daisy Noakes, The Town Beehive - A Young Girl's Lot, Brighton 1910-1934, 1984.
George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London, 1933.
Samuel Smiles, Lives of the Engineers, 1861-1862.
George Sturt, The Wheelright's Shop, 1923.
L. Strachey, Eminent Victorians, 1918.
L. Strachey, Elizabeth and Essex, 1928.
Flora Thompson, Lark Rise to Candleford, 1945 (Lark Rise, 1939; Over to Candleford, 1941; Candleford Green, 1943).
Beatrice Webb, Diaries, 1956.
Additional information
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