Module description
How do religious and literary texts interact and influence each other? What is the place of the sacred in literary writing? How do ideas about the divine operate in a secular framework? These are some of the themes that will be explored in this module. We will trace a large narrative arc going from ancient religion to contemporary world literature to investigate the myriad ways in which the two discourses affect each other, and map the spaces wherein these effects are most legible.
Assessment details
1 x 3000-word essay (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
The aim of this module is to enhance religious literacy and familiarity with the sacred sources that inform world literature. The module will cover multiple global religious traditions across historical periods with a view to exploring the relationship between literature and the sacred, as well as the character of literary language as a mode of writing with, to, and about the sacred.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate the intellectual, practical, and transferable skills appropriate to a Level 5 module. In particular, they will be able to:
- Understand the place of the sacred in literary writing, ancient and modern.
- Identify themes, narratives, and concepts drawn from religious texts operative in contemporary literature and culture.
- Mobilise expertise acquired in the module and degree course to formulate an independent research project appropriate to a level 5 module.
- Employability: Given the interaction between religion, economics, and politics in the contemporary world, the module offers a particular advantage to students who wish to pursue employment opportunities in Europe and/or the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region. Additional employability skills include critical thinking, interdisciplinary analysis, and argument development.
Teaching pattern
One-hour lecture and one-hour seminar weekly
Suggested reading list
Core texts
To be confirmed.