EN4353 Literature, Nature and Science in Early Modern England

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students.

Planned timetable

Tuesday 1-3

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr G J Pertile

Dr G J Pertile
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Giulio Pertile

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module considers early modern literature in the context of changing conceptions of the natural world and the emergence of the modern scientific method. The module may take up such issues as: the development of Copernicanism and materialism and their representation in literary texts; differences between imaginative, rhetorical, and scientific ways of knowing and representing nature; literary writing in relation to the rise of technology and the exploitation of the natural world; questions of gender and race in relation to the scientific world-view.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS EN2003 AND PASS EN2004

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Written Exam = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 Two-hour seminar (x 10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

44

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

258

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Students will be able to analyse a range of works of early modern literature in their historical context as well as in relation to contemporary issues
  • Students will be able to draw connections between different disciplines and different modes of thinking
  • Students will be better able to develop and articulate a complex argument about a literary text in written form
  • Students will be better able to articulate their insights orally and in a group setting