Module Details

Module Code: CULT H8029
Full Title: Borders in Literature: The Poetry and Fiction of Liminality.
Valid From:: Semester 1 - 2019/20 ( June 2019 )
Language of Instruction:English
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits:: 5
Module Owner:: Aoileann Ni Eigeartaigh
Departments: Unknown
Module Description: This module explores representations of borders and border areas in a number of 19th and 20th century literary texts. It focuses on the cultural, political and ideological significance of borders and their role in constructing identity. The marginalization of social, racial and gender groups as a consequence of psychological and cultural borders will also be examined.
 
Module Learning Outcome
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Module Learning Outcome Description
MLO1 Explain the key concepts and ideas of a number of contemporary theories of borders and diaspora formations.
MLO2 Contextualize representations of the border in the light of contemporary postmodern and postcolonial theories.
MLO3 Investigate the role of the border as a text, subject to a variety of conflicting meanings and significations.
MLO4 Assess the impact of a variety of borders on marginalized groups, including diasporas, gender, sexual and racial minorities.
MLO5 Critique a number of key Irish, European and North American literary texts, deconstructing their structural and thematic representation of the border.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
 
Module Indicative Content
Borders as ideological spaces: representations, postmodernism, colonialism and postcolonialism.
n/a
Borders and Romantic Literature: Identity, Culture and Politics
n/a
Space and the Irish cultural imagination: Mapping and Naming
n/a
The American Frontier: manifest destiny, pioneers, the myth of the West
n/a
Borders and Canadian Literature
n/a
US-Mexico Border Literature
n/a
Hyphenated Identities: The Literature of Diasporas
n/a
Fragmented Identities: Gender and Race
n/a
Postmodern Borders: Liminality and the Blurring of Life and Death
n/a
The Final Frontier: Science Fiction
n/a
Module Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work100.00%
Module Special Regulation
 

Assessments

Full-time

Course Work
Assessment Type Continuous Assessment % of Total Mark 20
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Class participation is a key component in this module. Students will be given weekly readings to prepare for class and will be expected to contribute to structured class discussions.
Assessment Type Short Answer Questions % of Total Mark 40
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students will participate in an online discussion forum. They will be expected to post weekly answers to set questions, conduct independent research on a number of relevant topics and to participate in structured debate on the topics and themes being studied in class.
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 30
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students will prepare a group presentation on the representation in literature of the geographical border area of their choice. The function of the presentation is to analyze the ways in which borders areas generate a specific type of literary text and raise recurring questions about life in a border area.
Assessment Type Performance Evaluation % of Total Mark 10
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students must submit peer reviews of two of the group presentations. The function of the reviews is to develop their critical skills.
No Project
No Practical
No Final Examination

Part-time

Course Work
Assessment Type Continuous Assessment % of Total Mark 20
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Class participation is a key component in this module. Students will be given weekly readings to prepare for class and will be expected to contribute to structured class discussions.
Assessment Type Short Answer Questions % of Total Mark 40
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students will participate in an online discussion forum. They will be expected to post weekly answers to set questions, conduct independent research on a number of relevant topics and to participate in structured debate on the topics and themes being studied in class.
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 30
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students will prepare a group presentation on the representation in literature of the geographical border area of their choice. The function of the presentation is to analyze the ways in which borders areas generate a specific type of literary text and raise recurring questions about life in a border area.
Assessment Type Performance Evaluation % of Total Mark 10
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students must submit peer reviews of two of the group presentations. The function of the reviews is to develop their critical skills.
No Project
No Practical
No Final Examination
Reassessment Requirement
No repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will be offered solely on the basis of coursework and a repeat examination will not be offered.

DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full-time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact n/a Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact No Description Every Week 1.00 1
Directed Reading Non Contact n/a Every Week 2.00 2
Independent Study Non Contact n/a Every Week 4.00 4
Total Weekly Learner Workload 9.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part-time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact No Description Every Week 1.00 1
Directed Reading Non Contact No Description Every Week 2.00 2
Independent Study Non Contact No Description Every Week 4.00 4
Total Weekly Learner Workload 9.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Ferriter, Diarmaid. (2019), The Border: The Legacy of a Century of Anglo-Irish Politics, Profile Books, London.
  • Anzaldua, Gloria. (2012), Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, Aunt Lute Books, San Francisco.
  • Donnan, Hastings, ed.. (2019), Migrating Borders and Moving Times: Temporality and the Crossing of Borders in Europe, Manchester University Press, Manchester.
  • Smyth, Gerry. (2001), Space and the Irish Cultural Imagination, Palgrave, Basingstoke.
  • Ní Éigeartaigh, Aoileann and David Getty. (2006), Borders and Borderlands in Contemporary Culture, Cambridge Scholars Press, Cambridge.
  • Ní Éigeartaigh, Aoileann et al.. (2007), Rethinking Diasporas, Cambridge Scholars Press, Cambridge.
  • Ashcroft, Bill et al.. (2002), The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures, Routledge, London.
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • DkIT subscribes to a wide variety of Ebooks and Ejournals. Relevant articles will be recommended to students..
Other Resources
  • Online, Students will be expected to stay up-to-date with contemporary critical and cultural developments. Relevant websites and data bases will be strongly recommended to them.