People have always told stories that contain magical characters, activities and plots. The purpose of the course is to investigate magical tales from a wide variety of times and places to see the different ways that magic functions in them.

90 minutes weekly across both semesters as scheduled on MyCampus

N/A

N/A

Assessment

Reading journal: assessed in January and at end of Semester 2:

(100-200 words per week on a choice of set questions- total 2000-3000 words over the full year. Assessed in two equally-weighted parts, one in each semester)  (35%)

Two equally weighted Presentations of 7-10 minutes each (one in each semester) (15%)

Essay (2000 words) (end of Semester 2): (50%)

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

Investigate magical tales from a wide variety of times and places, and including various literary genres, to see the different ways that magic functions within them, whilst using a variety of theoretical techniques to do this.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Trace the uses and functions of magic in the literature genres and eras studied

■ Demonstrate an understanding of such terms as Todorov's concepts of the Marvellous, the Gothic Explained, and the Fantastic; Freud's concept of the Uncanny, as well as other generic terms used on this course (for example, legend, fairy tale, science fiction, fantasy fiction, eco-fiction, and magical realism.)

■ Analyse the role of imagination in fiction

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.