Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Elizabeth I and her Poets
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	English Literature
Module Code	09 30616
Module Lead	Sheldon Brammall
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Queen Elizabeth, the last of the Tudor monarchs (reigned 1558-1603), presided over what has often been referred to as the ‘Golden Age’ of English literature. The Elizabethan court was a hotbed of literary production, as works circulated amongst courtiers, plays and masques were performed before the nobility, and the great early modern English epics were composed. At the centre of this culture stood the Queen, a highly accomplished writer and intellect, who carefully managed her public image as she navigated the country through a series of national and international revolutions. This module will focus on Elizabeth and her special position in the history of English literature. We will look at highlights of her own writing, from private letters to public orations, and consider what sort of image she presented to her nation. Reigning as a woman (and as a ‘Virgin Queen’ without an heir) posed distinct challenges, but also offered opportunities for a unique public representation. Elizabeth and her poets developed a rich iconography and symbolism, which we will explore in depth. The module will also look at some of the major events of her reign and how these were treated by the leading writers of the age. These might include her accession; her proposed marriage to the Duke of Alençon; the execution of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots; the attempted invasion by the Spanish Armada; and the succession crisis in the final years of her reign. We will look at poetry written to and about her; her pageants and processions around the country; and plays that were performed in her presence. The texts we read will be selected from a broad spectrum of Elizabethan writers, who may include William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, Mary Sidney, Philip Sidney, John Donne, and Thomas Nashe. Throughout the module we will also consider how Elizabeth has been remembered, from the decades after her death up to the recent past, when she has been performed on screen by actresses such as Cate Blanchett, Miranda Richardson, and Judi Dench.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: demonstrate an extensive knowledge of Elizabeth’s reign, and its major political, religious, and social controversies. read literary works from Elizabethan England and interpret them in the context of iconographical and symbolic representations of the Queen. demonstrate knowledge of different modern narratives of Elizabeth’s reign, and how these accounts can produce different readings of early modern literature. undertake independent research into the Elizabethan period, and engage with some of the criticism on its literature.
Assessment	30616-01 : 4,000 Word Essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 4,000 word essay (100%) Reassessment: 4,000 word essay (100%) Extenuating circumstances only
Other
Reading List