BRITISH CIVILIZATION

Instructor: Szabó Éva

Course codes:
Office hour:
AN12000BA; AN18007BA; AN2200OMA
Wed 10.30-11.30 a.m., Rm 104
Seminar, 2hrs, graded
First year BA, Minor programme Email:
eve.taylor1122@gmail.com
Mon, 12.00-1.40 p.m., Lecture Room II
Wed, 12.00-1.40 p.m., Lecture Room XIV

The course has a double aim. First, to introduce students to British cultural history
and life in modern Britain, that is, to basic cultural phenomena, and second, to
improve the students’ language skills. In each seminar various images, newspaper
articles, literary, and visual texts (including films, e.g. The King’s Speech and iconic
British television series like The Vicar of Dibley, Inbetweeners, Yes, Minister, etc.) and
songs (from William Blake’s “Jerusalem” through John Lennon’s “Working Class
Hero” to Muse’s “Uprising”) are discussed. The discussions are accompanied by
comprehension questions and exercises on the topics, including popular images of
Britishness vs. Englishness, national symbols, language, manners, gender roles,
other “things English” (tea ceremony, the cult of the countryside, the Beatles, etc.),
political institutions, the cultural geography of London, law, education, class,
international relations, Euroscepticism, race relations, multiculturalism, religion,
welfare and the media.

REQUIREMENTS:

CLASSROOM WORK: Students are expected to read the assigned chapters for
each class as this is the basis of classroom participation, and it also contributes to the
final grade with 10% of the maximum. The success of the seminar will greatly
depend on your contribution; it is essential, therefore, that participants take an active
part in classroom discussions.
QUIZZES: can be expected at the beginning of seminars to check students’
familiarity with the assigned readings. It will take approximately 5 minutes to write
these tests. If the total of the quizzes does not reach 60% percent, the entire course
fails to be graded. Latecomers will not be allowed to write them, nor those who are
absent from the class. In case of failure, there will be one more chance to pass them
on week 14, together with the end-term test. Also, quizzes count 10% of the final
grade.
PRESENTATION: Every student will have to give a short presentation (6-8
minutes) on a freely chosen topic closely related to the relevant chapters of the
O’Driscoll book. The presenter has to prepare a well-prepared handout for the
group and it is required that the presentation is of high quality both in terms of form
and content. Students are advised to include extra cultural, historical info,
interesting details, pictures, music, videos, etc. The presentation cannot be
completely read out; the student can of course check his/her notes while
presenting. Presentation topics are discussed in the first class. The student has to
consult with the instructor maximum one week before the presentation and
show her the handout.
MID-TERM TEST: an objective test on the material covered in the first half of the
term.

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END-TERM TEST: an objective test on the material covered in the second
half of the semester; definitions, general outline of certain cultural issues, short
essay questions on particular topics (to be answered in 5-6 sentences).
CLASS ATTENDANCE: no more than three missed classes can be tolerated.

GRADING POLICY
Course components Percentage Overall Grades
classroom work 10% percentage
presentation 10% 87-100% 5
quizzes 10% 75-86% 4
mid-term test 30% 63-74% 3
end-term test 40% 51-62% 2
Total 100% 0-50 % 1

Neither mid-term tests, nor end-term tests can be rewritten. If the mid-term
test receives a very low percentage, the student will have to write a very good end-
term test in order to get a grade for the course. Unlike exams, both the mid-term
and the end-term tests assess how students have been studying during the entire
semester. If the mark for the mid-term and the end-term does not add up to
50%, the final grade for the course will be 1. Only occasional quizzes can be
rewritten, as it is described above. Out of all the course components, only one re-sit
will be granted; in case you fail in more than one component, the course is a failure.

Please note that each and every course component above is obligatory: the failure
to meet any of these requirements (class attendance, small tests, end-term test)
will jeopardise the completion of the course. Out of three course components–
small tests, mid-term and end-term test– only one re-sit will be granted; failure to
meet more than one requirement will automatically result in overall failure.
Please also note that there is no make-up for insufficient class attendance.

Please note that students’ proficiency of English will be taken into account when
grading.

TEXTS:
For the assigned chapters of the O’Driscoll book’s pdf version one can email
the instructor, or one can also download it from the librarian’s computer in Rm.
101 together with the course material.
Further handouts distributed by the instructor or sent via email in advance.

(N.B. NO GRADE CAN BE OBTAINED UNLESS ALL THE COURSE

COMPONENTS ARE FULFILLED)

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Week Date Topic
1 10/12 Orientation and general introduction
Sept  choosing presentation topics
 sample UK citizenship test
 watching a scene from The King’s Speech
 discussing some popular images of the UK

2 17/19 English vs. British: places, myths and national symbols

Sept Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain, chapters 1 (Country
and people) and 3 (Geography)
Other materials used in class:
 The Union Jack video clip
 “God Save the Queen”
 watching a scene from Trainspotting (on Scottish identity)
 listening to William Blake’s hymn “Jerusalem”

Presentation topics may include: chapter 2 (History), Braveheart,

Stonehenge, landscapes, Derby - Pride and Prejudice, Haworth – Brontë
country, English myths, nursery rhymes, etc.
3 24/26 The English character and some “tribal rites,” language, manners,
Sept the social classes, gender roles
Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain,
chapters 4 (Identity) and 5 (Attitudes)
Other materials used in class:
 Paul McCartney: “English Tea”
 “Women, know your limits!” (BBC video)
 Blur: “Country House”
 “The Stately Homes of England”

Presentation topics may include: chapter 20 (Food), GBBO, River

Cottage - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Jamie Oliver, Heston
Blumenthal, amateurism, high/afternoon tea, Downton Abbey, etc.

4 01/03 Attitudes towards politics, the present state of the monarchy, the
Oct cultural geography of London
Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain,
chapters 6 (Political life) and 7 (The Monarchy)
Other materials used in class:
 Images and maps provided by the instructor
 watching a scene from The Queen
 Powerpoint presentation: “The British Monarchy”

Presentation topics may include: life of Elizabeth II, the British Royal
Family (Kate &William, Princess Diana, Prince Charles and Camilla),
Meghan Markle, The Tudors, David Cameron, Margaret Thatcher,
Winston Churchill, etc.

5 08/10 5 Political Institutions

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 Oct 5 Required reading: O’Driscoll: Britain,
5 chapters 9 (Parliament) and 8 (The Government)
5 Other materials used in class:
 Powerpoint presentation: “Government in the UK”
 watching Yes, Minister
 images, charts and videos provided by the tutor

Presentation topics may include: life and career of Theresa May/David

Cameron/Tony Blair/Winston Churchill, Downing Street 10, the PM’s
life in The Queen, etc.

6 15/17 Law
Oct Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain, chapter 11 (The Law)
Other materials used in class:
 “Monty Python’s Flying Circus Court Scene”.
 images, charts and videos provided by the tutor

Presentation topics may include: famous/scandalous cases in UK, the

court episode in Mind Your Language, the court episode in My Family, Is
It Legal?, Law and Disorder, etc.
7 22/24 Mid-Term Test DUE TO A BANK HOLIDAY (23rd Oct)
Oct ALTERNATIVE DATE FOR THE MONDAY CLASS!
8 29 Oct/ Consultation Week (no class) 
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9 5/7 Education, class
Nov Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain, chapter14 (Education)
Other materials used in class:
 watching the Ascot scene from My Fair Lady
 John Lennon: “Working Class Hero”
 watching Inbetweeners
 watching a scene from Downton Abbey
 Powerpoint presentation: “UK Education System” - British
Council presentation
 “The Grumpy Guide To Class.”

Presentation topics may include: universities (consult instructor on

sources), “Eton Style” (“Gangnam Style” parody), Starter for 10, Keeping
up Appearances, Mrs Dalloway, Oliver Twist, North and South, Eton
College, etc.

10 12/14 International relations, Euroscepticism, Brexit

Nov Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain,
chapter 12 (International Relations)
Other materials used in class:
 Sinead O’Connor: “Famine”
 U2: “Bloody Sunday”
 Powerpoint presentation: “Commonwealth, EU, North
Atlantic Relations”
 Cartoons: The Falklands War

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 Presentation topics may include: chapter 15 (Economy and everyday
life), “Where Are British Troops and Why?”, the Falklands War 1982,
George Mikes: “How to Lose an Empire”, The British Empire,
Commonwealth Games, the effects of Brexit, etc.

11 19/21 INSTRUCTOR MIGHT BE ON OFFICIAL LEAVE, MAKE-UP

Nov CLASS TO BE ARRANGED DURING THE SEMESTER

Race relations, multiculturalism, religion

Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, chapter 13 (Religion)
Other materials used in class:
 watching a scene from East Is East
 watching a scene from The Vicar of Dibley
 Powerpoint presentation: “Religious diversity in Britain”
 watching a scene from Empire Road

Presentation topics may include: multicultural Britain (consult

instructor on sources), fusion cuisine, fusion music, Salman Rushdie,
“The New Empire Within Britain.”, Love Thy Neighbour, Mind Your
Language, Bhaji on the Beach, Bend It Like Beckham, etc.
12 26/28 Welfare and the media
Nov Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain,
chapters 18 (Welfare) and 16 (Media)

Other materials used in class:

 newspapers, charts provided by the instructor
 Powerpoint presentation: “The Media in Britain”
 Song: The Daily Mail Song by Dan&Dan
 Mitch Benn: “I’m Proud of the BBC”

Presentation topics may include: The Times and the Sunday Times, The
Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, NHS strikes,
charities, Oxfam, Doctors and Nurses, the BBC, etc.
13 3/5 Everyday life, sports, festivals
Dec Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain,
chapters 23 (Holidays) and 21 (Sports)
Materials used in class:
 watching a wedding and the funeral from Four Weddings and
a Funeral
 Muse: “Uprising”

Presentation topics may include: chapters 17 and 19 (Transport and

Housing), 22 (The Arts), leisure activities, gardening, British Airways,
the Tube - the London Underground, 2012 London Olympics, football
teams, etc.

14 10/12 End-Term Test

Dec

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