This course will introduce students to a range of crime fiction, from its early modern beginnings to the contemporary novel, film and television series. It will encourage them to think critically about our fascination with crime narratives and their relation to the societies that produce them, and give them a more sophisticated understanding of aspects of narrative such as plot and characterization.
“A Chronology of Crime” John Scaggs
“From the Newgate Calendar to Sherlock Holmes” Heather Worthington
“From Sherlock Holmes to the Present” Lee Horsley
Lecture, class discussion, group work
3. Week
“A Scandal in Bohemia” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock “A Scandal in Belgravia” (S2E1) (in-class screening)
Lecture, class discussion, group work
4. Week
Death on the Nile (2022, dir. Kenneth Branagh) (in-class screening)
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
Lecture, class discussion, group work
5. Week
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
Lecture, class discussion, group work
6. Week
Murder on the Orient Express Agatha Christie
Lecture, class discussion, group work
7. Week
Murder on the Orient Express Agatha Christie
Lecture, class discussion, group work
8. Week
Midterm
Lecture, class discussion, group work
9. Week
Sam Spade – Short Stories Dashiell Hammett
“Hard-boiled Genre” (from A Companion to Crime Fiction)
“Dashiell Hammett” (from A Companion to Crime Fiction)
“Patricia Highsmith” (from A Companion to Crime Fiction)
Lecture, class discussion, group work
10. Week
Strangers on a Train Patricia Highsmith
Lecture, class discussion, group work
11. Week
Strangers on a Train Patricia Highsmith
Lecture, class discussion, group work
12. Week
Strangers on a Train Patricia Highsmith
Lecture, class discussion, group work
13. Week
The Constant Gardener (2005, dir. Fernando Meirelles)
Lecture, class discussion, group work
14. Week
Review
Lecture, class discussion, group work
15. Week
Final Exams Week
Lecture, class discussion, group work
16. Week
Final Exams Week
Lecture, class discussion, group work
17. Week
Final Exams Week
Lecture, class discussion, group work
Assessments
Evaluation tools
Quantity
Weight(%)
Midterm(s)
1
35
Quizzes
4
15
Final Exam
1
50
Program Outcomes
PO-1
Show knowledge of a substantial range of authors, movements and texts from different periods of literary history.
PO-2
Identify the intellectual, cultural and socio-historical contexts in which literature
is written and read.
PO-3
Employ the necessary skills in the reading, analysis and in appreciation of literature.
PO-4
Recognize, interpret, and comment on rhetorical and figurative language.
PO-5
Identify, distinguish between and assess the distinctive characteristics of texts written in the principle literary genres.
PO-6
Recall and define key terms and concepts relating to language, literature and/or culture.
PO-7
Recognize the role of different social and cultural contexts in affecting meaning.
PO-8
Demonstrate responsiveness to the central role of language in the creation of meaning.
PO-9
Recognize different structures and discourse functions of the English language.
PO-10
Display competence both in written and/or oral expression and in the
communication of ideas in a variety of contexts.
PO-11
Demonstrate critical skills in the close reading, description, interpretation,
and analysis of literary and non-literary texts.
PO-12
Use logical thought, critical reasoning, and rhetorical skills to effectively
construct arguments.
PO-13
Apply guided research skills including the ability to gather, sift, organize and
present information and material.
PO-14
Show competence in planning, preparation and revision of essays,
presentations, and other written and project work.
PO-15
Reflect on ethical and philosophical issues raised in literary, critical, and
cultural texts.
Learning Outcomes
LO-1
LO 1. show knowledge of the history of crime fiction from its beginnings in works such the Newgate Calendar, through to the Golden Age of crime writing and contemporary works, including film and television writing;
LO-2
LO 2. be familiar with a range of authors of crime fiction, and with the wide variety of sub-genres of crime writing, such as detective fiction, the hard-boiled mode, the police procedural, the noir thriller and historical crime fiction;
LO-3
LO 3. be able to situate their readings of crime fiction in intellectual, cultural and socio-historical contexts;
LO-4
LO 4. recall, define and deploy a critical vocabulary for reading crime fiction, including key terms and concepts;
LO-5
LO 5. be able to discuss how language is used to create suspense, evoke atmosphere and character, and create and defy readers’ expectations.
