The aim of this module is to introduce students to various philosophical approaches to the theorisation of literature. We begin with a brief overview of the background to the Western tradition, considering the views about poetry and tragedy formulated by Plato and Aristotle. We will then explore a variety of philosophical interpretations of literature dating from the eighteenth century to the present. Thinkers discussed include such figures as Nietzsche, Adorno, Arendt, Derrida and Cixous. We will explore variety of topics, such as the relationship between literary language and truth, the politics of literature, literature and subjectivity, literature and desire, literature and ethics, gender, history, the status of literary language, and the often ambivalent relationship between literature and philosophy. 

The primary aim of the lectures is to introduce you to the theories of philosophers.  Seminars engage with philosophical texts and theories, but are also a forum in which you can raise and discuss literary texts. The module reflects this dual emphasis in formative and summative work by offering you the opportunity to take either a directly ‘philosophical–theoretical’ approach to the questions it raises, or to pursue a more ‘interdisciplinary’ engagement with these issues by combining reflection on philosophical theories with readings of literary texts in your assignments.

• explain philosophical concepts and ideas relevant to the study of literature 
• interpret critically key texts in philosophy, applying them to the study and/or theorisation of literature 
• engage in close critical analysis of relevant texts 
• evaluate and synthesize arguments about/interpretations of relevant material 

The module will be delivered through a variety of learning methods which may include a combination of digital learning activities to support face-to-face sessions. 

Academic skills: this module will develop and practise skills in close reading, independent scholarly research and critical thinking, with particular attention to historical, contemporary and theoretical relevance of the texts studied, making use of sound reasoning and detailed engagement with source materials. Assessment will develop skills in outlining, analysing and constructing arguments, developing close readings of texts; the deploying a critical vocabulary appropriate to the material at hand; and using (and deriving value from) texts encountered in the module.

Employability skills: these include the ability to synthesise information, participate in group-based discussion, to negotiate different and conflicting standpoints, to communicate ideas and to produce clear, informed arguments in a professional manner. Student-led research will encourage skills of information collation, selection and synthesis.  

Essay 1: 30%

Essay 2: 70%

Formative work to be submitted before each summative assessment: you can choose between submitting, as appropriate, an essay plan/structure, synopses of essay topic options (if undecided) or sample paragraph/s; for creative assignments, you can submit working drafts of parts of your composition, as arranged with the workshop convenor.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:
As with School policy, failed or unsubmitted assessments can be retaken during the August resit period.

Indicative Syllabus:

• Plato and poetry
• Aristotle, poetry and tragedy
• Nietzsche on tragedy
• Nietzsche: philosophy, history, metaphor
• Arendt, the human condition and poetry
• Bataille, literature and evil
• Heidegger, poetry and language
• Oakeshott and the voice of poetry
• Adorno and poetry after Auschwitz
• Gillian Rose: protesting the self
• Derrida: philosophy as a kind of writing
• Cixous, women’s writing and masculine power