COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE TITLE: British Novel and Drama COURSE CODE: ENGL 222

Instructor: Tahar Bayouli Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00 to 11:00

:Email: t.bayouli@mu.edu.sa Website

: Office no. Phone no. (CISCO)

Office location: Male section building College/ Institute: College of Education, AZzulfi

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to the British novel and drama, building mainly on
the prerequisite course Introduction to Literature. A short historical survey is first
meant to show the development of the two literary genres (drama and the novel)
from medieval literature up to the modern era with a focus on the authors and
works that stand as landmarks of each period. Then, a focused full study of one
selected novel and one selected play will train students to develop their textual
analytical and interpretive skills. The structural technical elements of the works are
highlighted, along with the thematic content and the socio-cultural and historical
.contexts shaping them

B. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

Teaching methodology of the course will mainly use lecturing, class discussions, ----
.seminars, and participation of students with oral presentations

C. COURSE OBJECTIVES

:By the end of the course, students should be able to

.Objective 1. –Outline the successive stages of development of British novel and drama

Objective 2. Understand the social and historical backgrounds of the novels and plays and

.how they are a reflection of the socio-cultural and political contexts of each period
Objective 3. Develop skills of critical reading, thinking, and comprehending via analyzing and
.discussing the assigned texts

Objective 4. Develop the skills of producing well organized, well written essays and oral
.presentations about the assigned literary texts

D. COURSE LENGTH

hours during 14 weeks; 3 hours per week. The first week for registration & enrolment 42 --
and the last one for the final exam

E. TOPICS/UNITS AND DATES

Topics / units .Week No

Course orientation /Overview of the successive periods of British -

3 1 .literature with a particular focus on drama and the novel

The relevance of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (a narrative -

.poem) to the study of the novel

Characteristics and examples of Elizabethan prose -

3 2
The Rise of the novel in the 18th Century: The importance of the -
pioneering works of Defoe, Fielding and Richardson

The Victorian Novel (19th century) -

20th Century British Novel-

6 3 Importance and influence of literary movements (Realism, -
Naturalism, Modernism)

A study of William Golding's Lord of the Flies in relation to a range

.of contexts: historical (WWII), social, and cultural
6 4
.Excerpts for textual analysis and discussion

Description and interpretation of the setting

Plot analysis: The opening situation, the development of the action

(the boys’ gradual regression into savagery), and the meanings of
6 5 .the novel’s ending

Character analysis and characterization techniques (Ralph vs Jack

and Piggy, …)
 :A short survey of the history of British drama

Medieval Mysteries and Morality plays

The Elizabethan Era as the Golden age of British Drama with an

.importance of the classical heritage
9 6
Restoration Drama: Goldsmith and Sheridan: the Comedy of
Manners

20th century Drama: importance of Bernard Shaw, John Osborne,

Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett

Selected representative play for study Shakespeare's Hamlet

.Sources of the Play. The Renaissance as a context for the play

:Textual Analysis

Discussion of the technical, structural, thematic and cultural

6 7
implications of: the revenge motif, the Ghost, Hamlet’s madness
.and the tragic ending

Character analysis: (interpreting relationships) Hamlet and Horatio,

Hamlet and Claudius, Hamlet and Gertrude, Hamlet and Ophelia,
.Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

3 8 Revision and Final Exam

F. TEXTBOOK(S) AND REQUIRED TOOLS OR SUPPLIES

A Survey of English Literature in its Historical Context by Ruth Fleischmann (2013) .1

----------------------------------------------------------

G. GRADING POLICY & PLAN

:Brief Description of Course Components .1

Assignments: Are assigned by the instructor all through the term ●
Classroom Activities: Class participation and oral presentations ●
Quizzes: 2 quizzes at the beginning and the end of the term ●
Examinations: Mid – term exam and a final exam ●
:Weighting of course components .2

Percent of Total Grade Course Components Category

20% Quizzes

10% Homework

10% Classroom Activities (participation,

presentations, pair work, group work,
discussion board, etc.)

20% Mid-term exams

40% Final exam

100% Total

H. COURSE COMPONENT SPECIFICS & INSTRUCTIONS

Assignments: There will be 5 assignments during the semester. Each assignment will be
allotted 1 mark. Instructions for the assignments will be available during the class. Late
assignments will be accepted but points could be deducted. Handwritten or typed
assignments will be accepted with instructors' permission.

Participation: Participation is an integral part of the course. Students may learn answers to
questions they have by participating in all discussions and class activities.

Quizzes: There will be 2 online quizzes during the semester, theoretical and practical (open
book), before the first and after the midterm exams respectively.

Examinations: There will be 2 paper exams during the semester; 1 midterm and one final
exams. Tentative dates and time of the exams are indicated above.

Final Project: There will be an online project assigned to students to be accomplished within
a day by the end of the semester.

G. CLASSROOM & LAB SAFETY

Attendance: It is necessary to attend each class online. In the event of an absence, it is the
student’s responsibility to get any notes or assignments missed. Attendance will be checked
on the portal by each lecture.

Assistance: If you find difficulty with the course you may contact the instructor anytime via
e-mail or during office hours.

Academic Ethics: Plagiarism (cheating) is a serious offense. It creates a disservice to the

student to present work which is not his/hers. A student suspected of cheating may be
given a grade of zero.
Classroom Conduct: In order to benefit from the course, students are expected to adhere to
the following:

1. Attend class or log into class on time. After 10 minutes, students will be considered
late, two Ls will be counted as one absence on the portal.

2. Be prepared with all necessary materials; pens, paper, etc.

3. Mobile phones are to be kept off during class.

4. Students should make sure that they can take quizzes, midterm and final exams on
the specified date and time.

5. You are required to complete assigned readings and exercises before coming to
class. Be prepared for all class discussions and activities.