English Literature

LECTURER: CALUM LEATHAM UNIT 12

Todays Seminar
Part 1 Part 2
Exam Information &
P&PR: Symbols and Themes
Preparation Discussion

P&PR Focus Group

P&PR: Read Through
Exam Information & Preparation
 We are currently on Unit 13
3 individual assignments - . Essay, Poem, Essay - A total of 15% of
your grade
 Unit 16 & 17 is Group Presentations – 30% of your grade
 Unit 18 – Mid Term Test – 15% of your grade
 Finale Exam - (9.30am; 11.04.2024) and venue (Room A605) – 30%
of your grade.
Group Presentation
 Date: Unit 16 & 17 is Group Presentations (2nd and 4th of April)
 Project: A group of 5-6 students will choose one of the following options: an American short
story, an American poem or a classic/modern animated movie to analyze in accordance with the
formal elements of fiction:

1. Plot 2. Characters

3. Setting 4. Point of view

5. Style, Tone, & Language 6. Themes

7. Symbolism
Group Presentation
Time Budget for the groups is 15 Minutes
Groups must be organised and have their presentation outline
ready for discussion on week 15 for discussion.
Groups will be organised into different days based on random
selection for fairness.
 Marking is based on a mixture of individual presentation and
overall group information.
Mid Terms
Mid Term Exam
The final exam includes 2 parts:
- Literature theory: 05 questions of short-answer and MCQ.
- Understanding literary works: 10 MCQs, short-answer questions.
Time budget: 30 minutes.

Mid Term is on Unit 18

Final Exam
The final exam includes 3 parts:
- Literature theory: 10 questions of short-answer and blank-filling.
- Understanding of novels: 20 – 30 MCQs about the works during the course.
- Short essay: 300-500 words about one of the issues covered in the course.
Time budget: 60 minutes.

Time, date and location of final exam: (9.30am; 11.04.2024) and venue (Room A605)
Symbolism
A Symbol is a person, object or event that
suggests/represents more than its literal meaning.
Conventional symbols are widely accepted and
understood symbol that represents a specific idea or
concept within a cultural or literary context.
 Literary Symbols are elements of a narrative (Character
actions, objects, names…) that have both a literal
significance while suggesting other meanings.
 Symbols are typically intentionally placed and crafted
to be noticeable.
 They allow the author to suggest complex ideas with
less words (Say more with less).
Themes
Theme is the overall underlying message or central idea that
the author conveys using elements from their narrative.
 Sometimes it is explicitly obvious, other times it requires careful
examination of the work.
 Sometimes the theme is based around morals (don’t be a bad
person) but not always.
 Not all themes are clear, sometimes they can be ambiguous (don’t
be a bad person, maybe).
Not all narratives have a focus on theme – while a theme could be
extracted from most works, some authors have little or no theme in
mind as they write their works. (Comedies, Horror or Adventure)
Read Through & Discussion
Chapter 1:
What is the significance of the opening line: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single
man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Chapter 43:
How does Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, represent his character & how does Elizabeth’s views
change of him?
Chapter 58:
How has Elizabeth and Darcy changed?
What symbols & themes are found
in P&PR?
Focus Group Project
Project: A group of 5-6 students will examine Pride and Prejudice and begin making a 10 minute analysis of
both the book and the movie in relation to:

1. Plot
2. Characters
3. Setting
6. Themes
7. Symbolism
Final Individual Project:
Students must write a 350-650 word essay.
Here are a list of five topic. You must pick one and create your own question:
1. Writing about Tara before and after the War.
2. Writing about 2 characters of “Gone with the Wind”.
3. Writing about themes of “The Great Gatsby”
4. Writing about the role of setting of “Dreams”.
5. Writing about the themes of “Pride and Prejudice”.

Deadline is unit 15.