The 'new woman' was a phenomena that appeared at the end of the 19th century - a sexually transgressive figure who was politically astute and desirous of rights hitherto enjoyed only by men. This course will look at a selection of extracts which depict the new woman as a writer of and character in fiction from the late 19th century.
Course aim
This course will consider the phenomena that was the 'new woman' as she wrote and/or appeared in fiction in the late 19th century.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the phenomena that was the 'new woman'.
- demonstrate an understanding of the social, political, and historical context of the new woman.
- understand aspects of narrative technique.
- participate in group discussion.
- critically evaluate primary source material.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
What else do I need to know?
- If students have the texts they can bring them but this is not essential; extracts will be provided. See the "Pre-course work, reading and information sources" section for the list of texts.
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
- No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful
- No pre-reading required. Extracts for discussion will be provided from the following texts: The Heavenly Twins and The Beth Book by Sarah Grand; Keynotes and Discords by George Egerton; Daughters of Decadence - Women Writers of the Fin de Siecle.
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
Download full course information sheet
Literature: Late 19th Century New Women Writers - Day School
