WEA Course Information Sheet 2014-15
Course title: English Literature: The Long and the Short: Sagas and Short Stories
Course reference: C2417557
Tutor(s): Natalie Stephenson
Venue: Vestry House, 21 Paradise Road, Richmond TW9 1SA
Start date: 17/9/2014
End date: 25/3/2015
Number of sessions: 20*
Hours per session: 2
Fee: £177.75
Day(s)/time(s): Wed 14:00-16:00
Level: 3
* Plus two additional sessions of 2.5 hours each for visits – TBA
Essential materials e.g. books and equipment to be provided by the student
Texts chosen for class study, note book and pen.
Course description:
The art of story-telling takes many forms: our course will include family chronicles such as The Forsyte Saga, a
selection of tales be the Nobel-prize winning Alice Munro and entries from contemporary short story
competitions.
Course aims:
In this course we will focus on the two enduringly popular genres that exemplify the range of narrative art, the
long and the short. Our aims will be 1) to consider the significance and effects of the writers’ choice of form,
recognising the importance of generic convention as well as the appeal of innovation.2) to evaluate the writers’
success in the creation of characters and plot in the world they seek to represent. 3) to extend our understanding
of the biographical, historical, and critical contexts of the individual works. 4) to develop the reading skills that
enhance appreciation and enjoyment of literary texts. 5) to share our individual insights into the experiences and
ideas articulated in the fiction and their relevance to our own life experience.
Any prior knowledge or entry requirements?
The classes are intended for enthusiastic readers of literature who enjoy close readings of texts and
interrogating their own responses to them, and who wish to increase their knowledge of classic and
contemporary works and critical practice
Course content: what topics will the course cover?
TERM ONE
1) Introductory sessions: The course will begin with an introduction to the texts chosen for class study in the
context of a discussion of the defining features of “the long and the short”, and the pleasures, and challenges,
involved in reading them:
a) Originating in medieval Iceland, the “saga” continues to be a familiar genre, important to literature as the
acknowledged ancestor of the novel. A handout of saga material will be provided, b) to begin to define our own
expectations of the short story, it is suggested that we engage with the B.B.C. short story award for 2014. The
short-listed stories will be broadcast on Radio 4, Front Row, in the week beginning 15th Sep, (there should be a
“Listen Again” option) and published on the same date.
2) class text: John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga (Vol 1 in Penguin Modern Classics, £12.99)
Our study will concentrate on the trilogy published as The Forsyte Saga in 1922 and made up of the three novels
previously published separately: The Man of Property (1906) In Chancery (1920) To Let (1921). Later additions
to the Forsyte family history, now published as Vols II and III of the saga, were originally designated “chronicles”.
Supplementary text: John Galsworthy, The Island Pharisees, (Capuchin Classics, £9.99)
Recently republished, this early novel was the first of Galsworthy’s to appear under his own name. It provides an
interesting insight into his development as a writer.
3) class text: ed Milton Crane, 50 GREAT SHORT STORIES (Bantam Classics, £5.99)
From this collection I suggest we read the stories by classic American masters of the genre: Edith Wharton,
James Thurber, Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O’Connor. Members of the class may wish to add others.
4) class text: Alice Munro,The Dance of the Happy Shades (Vintage,£8.99)
This, the first collection in what was to be Munro’s outstanding career as a writer of short stories, introduced her
unique voice and terrain.
We may also decide to include in our class readings later stories from the most recent selection (see below).
Supplementary text: Alice Munro, Lying Under the Apple Tree (Vintage,£8.99)
TERM 2
1) class text: Elizabeth Jane Howard, The Cazalet Chronicles: The Light Years(1990),Marking
Time(1991)Confusion(1993) Casting Off(1995) All Change(2013) (Pan Books £8.99 each)
We will attempt to do justice to the five volumes of this family saga by reading and discussing parts that
exemplify the memorable characterisations, the well realised historical backgrounds and the quality of the
writing, its consistency and range.
2) class text: J.L Carr, A Month in the Country(Penguin Modern Classics £7.99)
This prize-winning work exemplifies what can be achieved by a “novella”: the dense authenticity of character and
place, the tensions and resolution of an absorbing plot, such as might be expected of a full length novel, within
the limits of a long short story.
Supplementary text: Elizabeth Smart, By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept (Flamingo £7.99)
Described as “a masterpiece of poetic prose” the intensity achieved by this account of a love affair has made it a
classic novella.
3) Class text: a selection of traditional and contemporary narrative verse.(A handout will be provided.)
Teaching, learning and assessment methods: tick those to be used 
Demonstration
Discussion
*
Group work
Project work
Research
*
Role play
Activity outside class
Question and answer
*
Observation
time
Other (state)
Presentation
Field trip
Individual work
Written work
*
*
Practical work
How will I receive feedback on my learning progress and achievement?
Students will be asked to share with the tutor the class diaries they are expected to keep and to discuss their
written contributions. They will also be invited to respond to the tutor comments on their Learning Outcomes
form.
Learning outcomes: these are the intended outcomes and may be revised in discussion with the class. Students
are encouraged to think about and identify their own individual outcomes.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Recognise the historical dimension of familiar literary genres.
2. Appreciate the successes of the writers who seek a “realist” representation of their fictional worlds.
3. Bring knowledge of the contexts of literature to an understanding of individual works.
4. Articulate their views of the strengths and limitations of the texts we have read.
5. Identify the qualities that define a “classic” work of fiction.
Reading and information sources: Is any reading/preparation essential or desirable?
Reading the class texts before the course is desirable but not essential.
Suggestions for progression to further study or for using the skills and knowledge gained:
There are a number of institutions in London that offer degree courses in English Literature or programmes of
lectures ad talks on writers and literary topics. Specific information will be given on request.
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