Cinematic adaptations of nineteenth century novels have dominated the box office and film industry awards for some decades, often provoking fierce debate about their fidelity, or otherwise, to the original; discussions about how the classic text has been transformed, cut and downright ruined, or, conversely, how the film has ‘rescued’ the novel, making it seem interesting and worth reading in a new context.

This course examines a series of nineteenth-century novels together with their film adaptations, in order to understand the differences between films and novels as modes of storytelling; examine the way the novel and its adaptation participate in debates unique to their own historical contexts; and analyse the anxieties about literary and cultural value exposed by adaptations of classic novels. We will ask: how do film adaptations generate new meanings from classic novels today? Should a film seek only to imitate the novel or can it also transform, reconceptualise and critique it? What role do the market and the audience play in generating new meanings from classic texts? And can the relationship between classic novel and film adaptation be understood as mutually dependent?

On satisfying the requirements for this course students will have enhanced analytical and critical skills, broadened their historical understanding, grasped the basics of film adaptation techniques and theory, and informed knowledge of some major texts from the period.

Indicative assessment:

Essay One, 2000 words (45%)

Essay Two, 2000 words (45%)

Tutorial participation (10%)

20 hours of lectures and one 1-hour tutorial per week and a number of film viewing sessions of up to 2 1/2 hours.

Normally students could expect to spend 8 hours per week on work related to this course.

Successful completion of two First Year English Courses or comparable expertise in historical and cultural studies.

Those relevant to the courses indicated under 'eligibility' above.

Any two First Year English courses or FILM1002 and FILM1003.

Texts may include: Jane Austen, Persuasion; Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady; Bram Stoker, Dracula; Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlett Letter, E.M Forster, A Room With A View, and a number of film adaptations

 A reading brick of critical material will be provided.