ATS2914 - The dark hero - 2017

The unit is designed to introduce students to the development of the dark or satanic hero in a range of major English texts selected to illustrate the tremendous impact and popularity of this powerful figure. Writers since the Renaissance have created powerful and seductive heroes, anti-heroes and appealing villains who advocate and personify radical individualism, self-sufficiency and ambition, but who are often isolated, gloomy and dissatisfied by their revolt against God, morality and society. Special attention will be given to the gendered representation of the dark hero, particularly the persistent tendency to represent or view female characters who challenge moral codes in relation to prevailing social roles of virgin/whore, good/bad mother etc. The unit encourages students to examine the relationship between the satanic heroes, vamps and villains who appear in the unit texts and the many dark heroes of who have subsequently appeared in literature.

Students successfully completing the unit will be able to:

1. identify key characteristics of the Dark or Satanic Hero;
2. identify the historical development, and with a range of different historical manifestations, of these figures;
3. identify the psychological, social and cultural roots of these figures and the impact they have had;
4. identify the key critical debates concerning the Dark Hero;
5. evaluate the relevance of these debates to the course-texts as well as to modern manifestations of these figures in literature;
6. argue their interpretations clearly and persuasively in oral and essay form;
7. communicate ideas and position effectively in discussion.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Patrick Spedding

Literary studies

Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.