School of English
Module manager: Professor Andrew Warnes
Email: a.warnes@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
None
ENGL2206 African American Narrative
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module explores modern forms of African American narrative in detail. We learn about the historical origins of this tradition and the shifting political pressures that continue to shape it. We also read several key works of the tradition, attending to its response to these pressures as well as its ever evolving treatment of voice, expression, and metaphor. On completion of the module students will gain a clear understanding of the long and distinctive tradition that stands behind recent works of African American fiction. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
1. To learn about the origins as well as the modern formation of the African American literary tradition. 2. To appreciate the distinctive nature of this tradition—not just of its traumatic history but also of the distinctive terms of reference, rhetorical practices, and chains of influence.
3. To develop an understanding of the complexity and hybridity of the tradition: its openness both to those other literary traditions and to the non-literary traditions (field hollers, the Blues, folktales) that flourished from the slavery period onwards.
4. To also understand the ethical dilemmas and tensions that the tradition confronts, not least its critique of the full effects of racism.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. 1. Analyse important works within the modern African American literary tradition.
2. Appraise key literary movements and theories of the modern novel.
3. Evaluate theories of race, power and identity.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Conduct independent research, engaging in good academic practice.
2. Produce independent arguments demonstrating advanced proficiency in critical thinking.
3. Communicate clearly and persuasively in responses to complex questions.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-in Session | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Lecture | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 185 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 205 | ||
Feedback for the first assessment will be formative for the second assessment. Feedback is also provided in seminars and office hours.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team