As you progress through your degree, you will increasingly specialise your topics of interest and research. This means at Stage 1 you will do broad modules that will likely cover a huge breadth of time and geographical space. By Stage 3 the modules are increasingly specialised, meaning you will gain an in-depth knowledge (as well as the breadth of knowledge you gained in your previous years).
SEL3392: Between the Acts: English Theatre, 1660-1737 is a Stage 3 module, currently run by Dr James Harriman-Smith, than focuses on Restoration and eighteenth-century drama. In this module students look at lots of different genres from the time period, including tragedies and comedies, but also pantomimes, burlesques, satires and more. They will also examine texts that describe performance, such as the first English acting manuals, early theatre reviews, and legal and business records about the stage.
In this module students work in groups to create a website introduction to a play written by a woman between 1660 and 1737. In the ‘Agnes de Castro‘ site, students worked together to create a WordPress blog about Catherine Trotter’s 1696 tragedy. In ‘The Unhappy Penitent’ site, students discussed Trotter’s 1701 play, a work of early feminism and conscience.
This assignment gives students the opportunity to research plays they may not have otherwise encountered. It also develops key skills and knowledge, from team-working and organisation to IT literacy. It also prompts students to think about copyright law and writing for the web.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this insight into the exciting work our students have been creating.
If you have any questions about Newcastle University School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics with email english@ncl.ac.uk.