Students will consider key concepts and theories having to do with the production of creative literature, such as the nature of emotion, narrative, metaphor and language.

Students will be encouraged to make connections with works of literature from different historical periods and cultural contexts.

(LO1) Students will be able to explain and evaluate some of the theories central to philosophy and literature.

(LO2) Students will be able to analyse key concepts and arguments relating to philosophy of literature.

(LO3) Students will be able to structure discussion of issues in philosophy and literature.

(LO4) Students will be able to interrogate literature through philosophy and vice versa.

(LO5) Students will be able to articulate and defend positions in philosophy of literature.

(LO6) Students will be able to present their ideas with clarity and confidence.

(LO7) Students will be able to develop in writing coherent, structured and informative accounts on philosophical issues.

(S1) Students will develop their skills in making appropriate use of information technology, information on the World Wide Web and reference works and databases relevant to the discipline.

(S2) Students will enhance their capacity to participate, in a dispassionate and respectful manner, in debates about controversial and profound matters.

(S3) Students will develop their willingness critically to evaluate and reflect upon arguments, beliefs, proposals and values, both their own and those of others.

(S4) Students will enhance their abilities in reading and understanding texts and in comprehending abstract material.

(S5) Students will develop their skills in thinking critically, analysing problems and analysing and assessing arguments.

(S6) Students will enhance their ability to identify and reflect critically upon the issues that underlie debates.

(S7) Students will develop confidence in considering previously unfamiliar ideas and approaches.

(S8) Students will enhance their ability to marshal arguments and present them orally and in writing.

(S9) Students will develop the ability to perform bibliographical searches, to include to professional standard citations and bibliographies in their work and to plan, organise and produce presentations and essays.

(S10) Students will enhance their oral and written communications skills and develop skill in explaining complex material in a precise manner.

The syllabus will change depending on the topics covered each year. Topics might include:
Metaphor
Tragedy and pleasure
Communicating emotion
The status of fictional characters
Catharsis and hamartia
Aristotle's poetics
Plato's rejection of poetry
The quarrel between poetry and philosophy
The literary imaginary
Deconstruction and the sign

‘Standard’ delivery is campus-based. Hybrid/online variants are as below.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture (online and asynchronous in hybrid/online teaching)
Description: 11 x 1 hour lectures.
Lectures are tutor-led activities, offering a map of the syllabus and a framework for independent enquiry-led research. Students are encouraged to engage actively with lectures through, for example: (i) taking opportunities to ask questions during the session; (ii) reflecting on and responding to questions posed to them; (iii) producing questions and notes on issues for subsequent group discussion in seminars.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar (synchronous; online or on campus as circumstances permit in hybrid/online teaching)
Description: 11 x 1 hour seminars.
Seminars present an opportunity for formative, applied and enquiry-led learning based on pre-set readings, facilitated by the tutor. Seminars thus offer opportunities for stud ents to respond to tutor- and peer-set questions, deepen understanding, apply ideas, develop arguments and build confidence through group discussion. One or two students take the lead each week through peer-teaching, delivering presentations based on their own enquiries.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

The majority of teaching will be delivered face to face on campus. Online delivery will be used to complement the on campus delivery and where technology affords a better learning experience.