Contemporary British
Fiction
WINTER 2014
Prof. Alice Staveley
ENG 44B (3 Units)
ENG 144B (5 Units)
TTH 9-9.50
200-219
How do contemporary British novelists
represent the dramatic changes in culture, class,
landscape, economy, gender, race, and national
identity that followed the allied victory in the
Second World War (1939-1945)? Focusing on
writers born in the aftermath of the war, and the
successive generation, this course asks what
political, cultural, and literary concerns shape
historical consciousness in novels by Zadie
Smith, Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Jeanette
Winterson, Hanif Kureishi, Julian Barnes, and
Ali Smith.
Crucial note about Units
Students may take this course for EITHER 3 units (ENG 44) OR 5 units (ENG 144).
The writing load – but not the reading load – will reflect the difference of temporal input.
See requirements below. Prospective English majors need to be aware, however, that the
department only allows ONE 3-unit course to count toward the English major degree. So,
if you are in first or second year, are undeclared, and are taking this course for 3-units, be
forewarned that “Contemporary British Fiction” could certainly count toward your major,
but ONLY if you don’t plan on counting any other 3-unit course. If you decide after
enrollment to ‘up’ (or lower) your unit count on Axess you MUST complete the change
before the Winter quarter Add/Drop deadline and talk to me about what additional writing
might be needed at that time.
Novels (available Stanford Bookstore)
 Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day (1989)
 Ian McEwan, Atonement (2001)
 Hanif Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia (1990)
 Jeanette Winterson, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (1985)
 Zadie Smith, White Teeth (2000)
 Julian Barnes, Flaubert’s Parrot (1984)
 Ali Smith, The Accidental (2005)
Syllabus
Jan. 7 Introductions
Setting Suns: The Post-Imperial Estate House Novel
Jan. 9 Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
Jan. 14 Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day (RR due on Coursework)
Jan. 16 McEwan, Atonement (RR due)
Jan. 21 McEwan, Atonement
Jan. 23 McEwan, Atonement
Race, Gender, & Sexuality: The Age of Aquarius
Jan. 28 Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia (RR due)
Jan. 30 Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia
First Essay: Due Friday Jan. 31 by 5pm on Coursework
Feb. 4 Winterson, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (RR due)
Feb. 6 Winterson, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit
Feb. 11 Smith, White Teeth (RR due)
Feb. 13 Smith, White Teeth
Feb. 18 Smith, White Teeth
Feb. 20 Smith, White Teeth
History, Myth, Text: The Postmodern Turn
Feb. 25 Barnes, Flaubert’s Parrot (RR due)
Feb. 27 Barnes, Flaubert’s Parrot
Feb. Mar. 4 Barnes, Flaubert’s Parrot
Mar. 6 Smith, The Accidental (RR due)
Mar. 11 Smith, The Accidental
Mar. Smith, The Accidental (conclude + course wrap-up)
Final Essay: Monday March 17 by 5pm on Coursework
[NB: There may be some supplemental reading in cultural and social history handed
out in class, time and pace permitting.]
Course Requirements 5 Units:
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Attendance, Active Participation in Seminar: 20%
Reader Responses (RR): Due in class at start of each new novel 20%
Essay #1 (7-8 pages) 25%:
Essay #2 (8-10 pages) 35%
Course Requirements 3 Units
 Attendance, Active Participation: 20%
 RR: FOR 4 of 7 Novels (pre-selected by 9 Jan.): 20%
 Essay #1 (4-5 pages)
 Essay #2 (7-8 pages)
Contacting Me:
I am readily contactable on email (staveley@stanford.edu) and will respond to
messages within one day. I sometimes, however, do not check on Saturdays, so plan
accordingly. I am happy to meet you outside class to talk about the course, your
papers, or other concerns you may have. You can drop into my office (460-328)
during my office hours Tuesday 11-noon and Thursday 1-3 pm, or email to set up
an appointment for another time.
Administration
 Students with Documented Disabilities
Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact of a
disability must initiate the request with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE).
Professional staff will evaluate the request with required documentation,
recommend reasonable accommodations, and prepare an Accommodation Letter for
faculty dated in the current quarter in which the request is being made. Students
should contact the OAE as soon as possible since timely notice is needed to
coordinate accommodations. The OAE is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk (phone:
723-1066, URL:http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae).
 The Honor Code
The Honor Code is the University's statement on academic integrity written by
students in 1921. It articulates University expectations of students and faculty in
establishing and maintaining the highest standards in academic work.
The Honor Code is an undertaking of the students, individually and collectively:
1. that they will not give or receive aid in examinations; that they will not give or
receive unpermitted aid in class work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other
work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of grading;
2. that they will do their share and take an active part in seeing to it that others as
well as themselves uphold the spirit and letter of the Honor Code.
2. The faculty on its part manifests its confidence in the honor of its students by
refraining from proctoring examinations and from taking unusual and unreasonable
precautions to prevent the forms of dishonesty mentioned above. The faculty will
also avoid, as far as practicable, academic procedures that create temptations to
violate the Honor Code.
3. While the faculty alone has the right and obligation to set academic
requirements, the students and faculty will work together to establish optimal
conditions for honorable academic work.