Dickens and Crime

General data

Course ID:	3301-LB115
Erasmus code / ISCED:	09.202 Kod klasyfikacyjny przedmiotu składa się z trzech do pięciu cyfr, przy czym trzy pierwsze oznaczają klasyfikację dziedziny wg. Listy kodów dziedzin obowiązującej w programie Socrates/Erasmus, czwarta (dotąd na ogół 0) – ewentualne uszczegółowienie informacji o dyscyplinie, piąta – stopień zaawansowania przedmiotu ustalony na podstawie roku studiów, dla którego przedmiot jest przeznaczony. / (0231) Language acquisition The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) code has been designed by UNESCO.
Course title:	Dickens and Crime
Name in Polish:	Dickens i zbrodnia
Organizational unit:	Institute of English Studies
Course groups:	(in Polish) Fakultatywne przedmioty dla studiów dziennych z literatury brytyjskiej
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores):	(not available) Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles: the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS; the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h; 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes; weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS; work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load. view allocation of credits
Language:	English
Type of course:	elective courses
Mode:	Classroom
Short description:	The aim of the course is to conduct an in-depth analysis of two selected novels by Charles Dickens through the prism of the crime and criminality trope. An inveterate observer of the dark side of Victorian life, Dickens frequently wrote about crime and criminality in his novels. The course is focused on close-reading of his texts, which will help students to consider the following issues: narration, focalization, symbolism, plot, construction of characters, imagery. The second objective of the course is to examine Dickens's novels in their cultural and historical context to understand Dickens's engagement with his time (the worlds social, political, economic and artistic in which Dickens worked). Finally, we will analyse selected film adaptations of the novels and discuss how their screen version may influence different interpretations of the text. Education at language level B2+. Second-cycle studies (Master's degree programme)
Full description:	The aim of the course is to conduct an in-depth analysis of two selected novels by Charles Dickens through the prism of the crime trope. An inveterate observer of the dark side of Victorian life, Dickens frequently wrote about crime and criminality in his novels. The course is focused on close-reading of his texts, which will help students to consider the following issues: narration, focalization, symbolism, plot, character, theme, imagery. The second objective of the course is to examine Dickens's novels in his cultural and historical context to understand Dickens's engagement with his time (the worlds social, political, economic and artistic in which Dickens worked). Here are some issues which will be discussed in the context of Dickens's novels: - The business of Victorian publishing - Dickens and his readers - Education, literacy and the Victorian reader - Novels and popular culture - Dickens and Victorian theories of the novel - Dickens and Victorian psychology / science / law - Victorian realism - Dickens and women - Juvenile crime in the 19th century - Public executions in Victorian Britain - Dickens and the Gothic - Dickens and the Sensation novel - Dickens and illustrations - The novelist and the stage - Dickens's novels in film and on television - Charles Dickens and the Victorian underworld - Dickens's visits to the Newgate prison - Dickens and the most notorious rookeries of London - Dickens and Inspector Charles Field of Scotland Yard
Bibliography:	During the course, we will discuss in depth two of the following novels: - "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" - "Oliver Twist" - "Great Expectations" - "A Tale of Two Cities" - "Hard Times" - "Nicholas Nickleby" - "David Copperfield" - "Little Dorrit" Secondary sources: - Bratlinger, Patrick, and William B. Thesing eds. "A Companion to the Victorian Novel." London: Blacwell, 2005. - Paroissien, David ed. "A Companion to Charles Dickens." London: Blacwell, 2008. - Jordan, John ed. "The Cambridge Companion to Charles Dickens." Cambridge: CUP, 2001. - David, Deidre ed. "The Cambridge Companion to the Victorian Novel." Cambridge: CUP, 2001. - Collins Philip. "Dickens and Crime." London: Palgrave Macmillan, 1995. - Collins, Philip ed. Dickens. "The Critical Heritage." New York: Barnes & Noble, 1971. - Sanders, Andrew. "Authors in Context: Charles Dickens." Oxford: OUP, 2003. - Cohen, Jane. "Charles Dickens and His Original Illustrators." Columbus: Ohio University Press, 1980. - Forster, John. "The Life of Charles Dickens." London: Cecil Palmer, 1928. - Connor, Stephen ed. "Charles Dickens." Longman Critical Readers. London: Longman, 1996. - Carey, John. "The Violent Effigy. A Study of Dickens's Imagination." London: Faber and Faber, 1991. - http://www.dickensmuseum.com/ The Dickens House Museum - http://www.dickensfellowship.btinternet.co.uk/ The Dickens Fellowship
Learning outcomes:	Knowledge Students will be able to K_W01 identify and characterize on an advanced level the role and significance of Charles Dickens's literary output in the 19th century British literature and culture K_W02 describe on an advanced level the current trends in literary and cultural studies research concerning Charles Dickens and his literary output K_W04 characterize on an advanced level the principles of research design in literary and cultural studies with special focus on the application of methods and tools in formulating research problems (on the basis of the selected novels discussed throughout the course) K_W05 identify the notions and principles pertinent to intellectual property and copyright Abilities Students will be able to K_U01 apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to literary studies and culture studies while analysing selected literary texts throughout the course K_U02 apply advanced research methodology within literary and culture studies and English studies, respecting ethical norms and copyright law K_U03 apply knowledge obtained during the course to account for and solve a problem, thereby completing a research task related to the course subject K_U04 analyse literary and cultural phenomena and draw generalizations on their basis in the context of societal, historical and economic factors on an advanced level (on the basis of the novels discussed throughout the course) K_U05 discern alternative methodological paradigms within literary and cultural studies K_U06 find information in various sources and critically assess its usefulness for research related to the topic of the course Social competences Students will be able to K_K02 apply knowledge and skills obtained during the course to undertake lifelong learning, as well as personal and professional development K_K03 take responsibility for performing one’s professional duties, with due respect for the work of others K_K04 assess critically one’s own knowledge and skills related to the course curriculum K_K06 value cultural heritage and cultural diversity as well as individual opinions
Assessment methods and assessment criteria:	- Active participation in classes - Continuous assessment of assignments - Two mid-term tests (passing score: 60%) Allowable absences: 2 Students who fail an exam may write it again during the resit examination session.

This course is not currently offered.

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Copyright by University of Warsaw.