Essay Topics 2010

These short pieces of work (600 words) are focused around issues of theory or background, and are usually due at the start of a new section of the course (see schedule for dates). They should be personal responses to the set reading, often linking issues from the reading to primary texts; they are not simply summaries of the readings. All three short exercises are compulsory. Look at these more as tutorial exercises than actual essays; while I require full answers (i.e. formal English and not note-form responses) I do not expect you to write much more than the designated 600 words.

Please note that I cannot grant you extensions on these exercises: they need to be handed in on the day, as we will immediately discuss the exercise in class, and if you hand them in thereafter it will not be your own insights you rely on.

Fairy Tale
(due date 23 August)

Set reading: Charles Dickens, "Frauds on the Fairies."

What is Dickens's overall argument about the place of morality in fairy tale? What is the inherent contradiction his argument presents, and how would you resolve it? How does his story "The Magic Fishbone" relate to his argument?

This reading is in Short Loan, and is online at The Victorian Web, see http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/pva/pva239.html.

Nonsense writing
(due date 20 September)

Set reading: Elizabeth Sewell, The Field of Nonsense, Chapters 1, 3 and 4 (don't panic, these are very short chapters). Book is on Short Loan.

What are Sewell's main points about the operation of nonsense literature? In the context of her argument, what does she mean when she says "In Nonsense all the world is paper and all the seas are ink"? What does this imply about the relationship between nonsense writing and reality? You could illustrate your points with reference to the work either of Carroll or of Lear.

Dracula and supernatural fiction
(due date 11 October)

Set reading: Fred Botting, "Gothic returns in the 1890s", from Gothic, 1996, London: Routledge. Photocopy of chapter is on Short Loan.

Botting offers an analysis of horror writing in Victorian England as a response to various aspects of society in the 19th century. What implications does he find for sexuality and science in the figure of the vampire? What other aspects of Victorian horror do you find interesting in his argument, and why?

You are required to write TWO essays for this course, one from the first half (fairy tale, nonsense or Carroll) and one from the second half (Dickens, Stoker or Wells). Essays should be around 1600 words long and should be handed to me in the seminar. You will need to give me a duplicate copy for the external examiner; if you do not, you will not receive your annotated essay back until after exam results are out.

Essays are usually due in the week following the last seminar on that particular topic. Obviously you are free to write on the texts you have particularly enjoyed, but please also think about your work schedule for other courses!

The course aims at a balance between textual analysis and theoretical background. You will be expected to do some preparation in critical background for each seminar, as well as being familiar with the actual texts we will cover. Your essays should not simply repeat the critical background, however, but should engage actively with the texts themselves.

I have given you a reading list of useful material I have made available. You are not obliged to read everything on this list (other than the short exercise readings); select what is appropriate to your topic, and you may also find other relevant material in the library.

Readings are available on Short Loan in the library, either as the whole book or as a photocopy. See bibliography for details.

Please note that I will not under any circumstances accept plagiarised work at second-year level. If you’re lucky I’ll refuse to mark a plagiarised essay and will require you to rewrite it. If the essay is already late and is also plagiarised, it will receive a mark of 0. I reserve the right to send particularly bad cases to the University Court, where at best you’ll get a reprimand and will fail the course, and at worst could be expelled. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AT ALL ABOUT WHETHER YOU ARE PLAGIARISING, ASK ME TO LOOK OVER A DRAFT.

I strongly recommend that you check my page on Common Student Essay-Writing Errors before writing your essay: I will remove marks for grammatical errors which are covered on that page.

Victorian Fairy-tale
(due date 13 September)

In a detailed discussion of one or two fairy tales from this section, discuss the writer or writers' creative intersection of fairy tale's magical narrative with the realities of Victorian society and/or technology. Do you think this is a successful combination? Why?

Lewis Carroll
(due date 27 September)

In a close analysis of EITHER Chapter VII ("A Mad Tea Party") of Alice in Wonderland, OR Chapter VII ("The Lion and the Unicorn") of Alice Through the Looking Glass, suggest how it both reflects and inverts moral and social aspects of Victorian society. Your analysis should pay some attention to social structures, notions of polite behaviour and issues of language.

Nonsense literature
(due date 4 October)

In a close analysis of any poem or poems by Edward Lear and their accompanying illustrations, discuss his exploration of the individual's place in Victorian society. How do the logic games played by nonsense contribute to his characterisation of the individual? (NB please do NOT use any of the specific limericks covered in the article by Dilworth).