Course overview
Students will undertake a critical exploration of the theories and practices of tragedy from classical times to the present. Areas of investigation include but are not limited to: the history of tragedy and changing notions of the tragic; the formal qualities of tragedy; kinds of tragedy; the `death of tragedy; tragedy and discourses of the mind and body. Texts will be selected from the following list: Sophocles' Oedipus, Marlowe's 1Tamburlaine; Shakespeare's Hamlet; Goethe's Faust Part 1; Brecht's Mother Courage and her Children; Anouilh's Antigone; Miller's Death of a Salesman; Vickers' Where Three Roads Meet. Selected extracts from theoretical texts and additional materials will encourage students to explore tragedy in practices and theories (and countries and artistic movements) beyond those represented by the set texts.
Course learning outcomes
- Read and interpret a selection of creative and theoretical texts central to the discourse of Tragedy
- Understand the major theoretical and critical movements as they apply to Tragedy
- Explain the interdisciplinary nature of the discourse of Tragedy
- Evaluate the selected texts within their historical contexts
- Undertake the formative stages of research, including an annotated bibliography
- Present persuasive and sustained written arguments based on research
- Contribute to group-based activities and work as a member of a team in the preparation and delivery of a seminar presentation
- Generate questions based on research
- Use technologies relevant to the preparation and completion of assessment tasks