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Report on a nineteenth-
or twentieth-century British author (of adults' or children’s
literature) that is not covered in the required course readings. Focus
on at least one major literary work by that author which you have
read.
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If you are going into
teaching, you might develop a teaching unit for a particular grade
level that involves discussing some works of British literature or
linking literature to another subject area. Or survey existing teaching
materials on that topic.
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Report on a social, historical,
political, religious or scientific issue in Britain as it is reflected
in particular works of literature. For example, in some of Dickens’
novels problems with the educational system in England are illustrated.
Darwin’s theory of evolution and Freud’s psychoanalytical
theories had a major impact on many writers. Yeats, Joyce, and others
wrote about political problems in Ireland.
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Report on a particular
place in the British Isles or former British Empire and the sense
of place conveyed in specific literary work(s). For example, the Brontë
sisters wrote about the Yorkshire moors, George Eliot’s novels
are set in the rural Midlands where she grew up, Dickens and T. S.
Eliot made use of London scenes in their times, Irish places were
important to Joyce and Yeats. Bring some pictures to class or display
pictures on the Internet or in Powerpoint.
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Explore the relations
between visual art or music and literature. Many authors’ works
have been depicted in music or paintings, and some writers were themselves
artists or musicians.
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Create your own artwork
that illustrates some background on the literature. Explain to the
class how your project has given you new insights into the literature
and what it can teach others.
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Create a short skit or
puppet show or musical performance or some other kind of production
that dramatizes a literary piece.
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Report on some aspect
of social history that relates to particular works of literature.
What Jane Austen Knew and Charles Dickens Ate is an interesting
book on nineteenth-century life.
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Discuss the issue of
censorship in relation to a particular author, such as James Joyce
or D. H. Lawrence, whose books were the focus of huge censorship battles
in their times.
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Report on the influence
of an earlier writer or artist (e.g., Shakespeare) on authors of this
period, or the influence of earlier mythology, folklore or legends,
such as Arthurian legends. Or discuss the relationship between folklore
or mythology and specific works of literature.