Operational Objectives
By the end of this lecture, learners will be able to:
Identify and describe key literary tropes, historical contexts, and thematic concerns in Gothic Romantic and Victorian literature, including the impact of the Industrial Revolution and shifting social norms.
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Analyze the critique of Enlightenment rationality and scientific ambition in Frankenstein, alongside explorations of gender, class, and autonomy in the works of the Brontë sisters.
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Examine the representation of selfhood, perseverance, and psychological depth in Victorian poetry, focusing on Tennyson’s and Browning’s responses to social change.
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Compare the role of Gothic and dramatic monologue forms in conveying anxieties about power, morality, and instability in both Romantic and Victorian texts.
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Critically engage with the subversion or reinforcement of gender and class hierarchies, particularly in the Brontës’ novels and Browning’s poetry.
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Develop original arguments in written and oral form, synthesizing textual evidence to assess how literature reflects and critiques historical and cultural transformations.