Literature: Five linked novels from Wuthering Heights to Cold Comfort Farm

Course aim

To read five key 'rural' novels published between 1847 and 1932, and discuss developments in the content, construction and reception of the 'rural' novel.

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
• No skills or experience needed
• This course is suitable for beginners and improvers

By the end of the course I should be able to:

• Share your thoughts and ideas about what you have read.
• Identify ways in which rural writing may be drawing attention to wider cultural concerns.
• Discriminate between different forms and techniques in the chosen texts.
• Explain the importance of setting in the novels, and compare and contrast them to other texts.

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
• There will be a schedule for reading the five set novels provided, on Canvas, by the tutor.

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
• 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
• You will be encouraged to consider other students work and give your opinions and suggestions

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 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
• You will need access to unabridged copies of the five novels: Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte Tess of the D'ubervilles, by Thomas Hardy Sons and Lovers, by DH Lawrence The House in Dormer Forest, by Mary Webb Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

• You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• Please read to the end of chapter 16 of Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, for discussion at the first session.

What can I do next?

• Progress to another WEA course
• Progress to a course with another provider
• Become involved with the WEA in a range of voluntary work and other activities including campaigning as a WEA member
• Become involved as a volunteer for a WEA partner or another organisation
• You could progress to Higher Education courses. Follow link to the PEARL website for information http://pearl.open.ac.uk/
• Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
• Join a reading group Join a writing group