Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, 'Mary Barton' (1848) was set in Manchester and deals with the difficulties faced by the Victorian working class. Her friend Charlotte Bronte began writing 'Shirley' in the same year, looking at themes of industrial unrest and the role of women in society. This course examines the two novels side by side, and in the context of political and sociological texts about women and the working classes in the industrial north in the 19th century.
Course aim
This course compares works by Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte - two prominent writers of the nineteenth century.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Approach literary texts in a critical way and discuss my findings with fellow students.
- Understand and engage with the literary concerns of the 19th century.
- View the selected texts in their socio-historical context.
- Explore questions relating to 19th century discourses on gender.
- Examine the portrayal of the working classes and the industrial north in 19th century literature.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- 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
- You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
- You will be encouraged to share your work with the group and discuss your learning
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- Week 1: Harriet Martineau and Social Reform (no pre-reading required) Weeks 2&3: Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton (1848) Weeks 4&5: Charlotte Brontë, Shirley (1849) Texts to be supported with essays, poems and letters on Canvas.
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- Become involved as a volunteer for a WEA partner or another organisation
- Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
Download full course information sheet
