This paper will introduce you to the novels of one of the most important writers of the nineteenth century. We will examine Dickens's development as a writer, from his early comedic works, through his "dark" novels of the 1850s, to the end of his career. Drawing on a range of contextual material, we will also consider Dickens as a social performer, while looking at his engagement with celebrity, gender, race, religion and class.
| Paper title | A Topic in 19th Century Literature |
|---|---|
| Paper code | ENGL473 |
| Subject | English |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2023 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,206.91 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 72 points from ENGL 311-368, EURO 302
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Department of English and Linguistics website
- Teaching staff
Paper Co-ordinator: Dr Grace Moore
- Paper Structure
Over the course of the year we will read and discuss a range of fiction, spanning Dickens's career. We will also consider contextual material and theoretical approaches to Dickens's writing.
- Teaching Arrangements
Weekly two-hour seminar.
- Textbooks
Charles Dickens:
- The Pickwick Papers, Penguin
- The Old Curiosity Shop, Penguin
- David Copperfield, Penguin
- Bleak House, Penguin
- Hard Times, Penguin
- Little Dorrit, Penguin
- Great Expectations, Penguin
- A Tale of Two Cities, Penguin
- Our Mutual Friend, Penguin
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:
- A familiarity with Dickens's career as a novelist, journalist and social reformer
- An understanding of the social, political and economic changes behind Dickens's responses to the 'Condition of England Question'
- An understanding of class, gender and race relations in Victorian Britain
- Refinement of research skills in the field of Victorian literature and culture
