MA Nineteenth Century Studies

The dissertation is designed to give you the opportunity to conduct a sustained piece of work on a subject of your own choice from the broad field of nineteenth century studies, and provides the chance to draw upon your skills of research, analysis and self-organisation.
With the guidance of an academic supervisor, you are expected to undertake a focused, structured study of a particular topic that may draw from any of the disciplines encountered in the taught modules on the MA in Nineteenth Century Studies, including literature, history, studies in visual and material culture, religious studies and history of science.
The dissertation may be approached from a single-discipline perspective, or from inter-disciplinary perspectives. You will be expected to produce a detailed study of primary material, which may be verbal texts, images, objects, and can demonstrate appropriate skills and methodologies for analysing these. You will also have the chance to show your engagement with recent scholarship in the specific field, synthesising a substantial amount of secondary literature.
Prior to undertaking this module, you must have successfully completed four modules on the MA in Nineteenth Century Studies (two core and two option modules). The second core module includes the completion of a satisfactory dissertation proposal, which will provide the basis for this dissertation.
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Tennyson
This module aims to introduce you to interdisciplinary study, through a focus on the career of Alfred Tennyson. As a writer whose poetry enjoyed enormous popularity, Tennyson in many ways epitomises the Victorian period, and his significance as a public figure extended well beyond literature.
The module seeks to address his writings, fame and reputation from perspectives taken from English, History, Art History and Material Culture studies. You can undertake research tasks on archival materials relating to Tennsyon, through privileged access to the Tennyson Research Centre in Lincoln. This collection of material relating to the poet, which is rich and varied, consists of manuscripts, proofs, published editions, artwork, sculpture, and photographs.
Through assignments interpreting materials from the archive, as well as other sources, you have the opportunity to experience the potential of interdisciplinary study, and have the chance to develop the skills to undertake this with confidence.
Nineteenth-Century Lives: Texts, Histories, Portraits (Option)