Overview

This unit explores why certain texts come to be considered classic works and introduces a new literary technique each week that students can apply to their own writing and reading. It introduces students to a deeper understanding of the history, conventions, and social and political underpinnings of popular and iconic texts and their related literary genres. These will help to inform the development of student’s own writing and critiquing skills

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate what makes a text canonical
  • Analyse the creative techniques and theoretical approaches used by writers to produce iconic literature
  • Apply knowledge gained from critical readings and analysis of literary works to their own creative output

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Various		6.50 12 weeks 78
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 35% 2,3 
EssayIndividual 35% 1,2,3 
In-Class ExercisesIndividual 30% 1,2,3 

Content

  • What makes an iconic text
  • The literature of antiquities/the hero’s journey
  • Renaissance literature/three act structure
  • 17th Century writing/vignettes
  • The Victorian era/the epistolary
  • Early 20th Century/stream of consciousness
  • Interwar literature/realism and symbolism
  • Postmodern movements/fractured narratives
  • Cold War writing/suspense
  • Intertexts

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.