Undergraduate Course: Theatre and Religion in the Middle Ages (ENLI10089)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | English Literature |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course examines the sometimes vexed and paradoxical relationships between theatre and religion. Although the Christian Church officially condemns theatre, its own practices of devotion and ritual help to create a type of 're-birth' of theatre through the very institution that set out to ban it. The course examines Liturgical Drama in English and certain key Christian rituals like those of the Annunciation, Good Friday and Easter Sunday will be highlighted as influencing specific dramatic conventions of Liturgical Drama and exercising influence beyond it. The gradual shifts from the confines of the church to the broader socio-political arena will be touched on through reference to the corpus of Mystery Plays and Morality Plays. Instances of this tense but creative relationship between drama and religion in other historical periods - classical Greek tragedy to the 20th century - will be drawn on in an attempt to provide a wider historical and theoretical context for the course. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | A MINIMUM of three college/university level literature courses at grade B or above (should include no more than one introductory level literature course). Related courses such as civilisation or creative writing are not considered for admissions to this course.
Applicants should also note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. In making admissions decisions preference will be given to students who achieve above the minimum requirement with the typical visiting student admitted to this course having three to four literature classes at grade A.
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| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- To provide students with awareness of the structural and constitutive relationship between theatre and religion
- to introduce some theoretical models from anthropology and classical studies
- to provide a general survey while also using contemporary theory about the performative nature of culture
- to re-examine or introduce the Bible as a literary text |
Assessment Information
1 essay of 2,500 words (25%); 1 examination paper of 2 hours (75%)
Visiting Student Variant Assessment
1 essay of 2,500 words (25%); 1 examination essay of 3,000 words (75%) |
Special Arrangements
| Numbers are limited to 15, with priority given to students taking degrees involving English or Scottish Literature and Visiting Students placed by the Admissions Office. Students not in these categories need the written approval of the Head of English Literature before enrolling. In the case of excess applications places will be decided by ballot. |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
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| Syllabus |
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| Transferable skills |
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| Reading list |
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| Study Abroad |
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| Study Pattern |
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Olga Taxidou
Tel: (0131 6)50 3611
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Anne Mason
Tel: (0131 6)50 3618
Email: |
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