EN3GOT: The Gothic

Module code: EN3GOT

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Andrew Mangham, email: a.s.mangham@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have at least 40 credits of EN-coded modules at Part 1 (except for visiting students) (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Literature has always been interested in the weird, the uncanny, and the frightening. This module explores the rise of Gothic literature from the ‘first-wave’ authors of the eighteenth century to the decadent writers of the late nineteenth century. Covering issues such as the links with European Romanticism, vampire mythology, the rights of women, queerness, and revolution, the module explores the ways in which the Gothic explored the human condition in one of the most critical periods in British history. This module aims to combine novels with short stories, poetry, essays and popular mythology in order to understand our enduring obsession with the darker sides of life.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. apply discipline-specific practices of close reading, interpretative analysis and critical argument
2. distinguish and evaluate different research methods, themes, and theoretical debates in current literary studies
3. undertake autonomous learning, enquiry and research within the discipline of English literature, applying their mastery of relevant knowledge, skills and methods
4. discuss and appraise published research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, within the field of English literature
5. respond creatively and imaginatively to essay questions and research tasks, for the purpose of devising and sustaining arguments, and of reaching decisive judgments
6. articulate their own and other people’s ideas concisely, accurately, and clearly whilst making sound judgments on complex and culturally sensitive issues, and communicate them in an appropriate and effective manner.

Module content

Texts may include Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, John Polidori, ‘The Vampyre’, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla and Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Surgeon of Gaster Fell’ and ‘The Sealed Room’. We will also study essays and reviews on ‘gothic theory’, plus relevant contextual material.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Structured two-hour seminars, for which students are required to do preparatory reading and one hour of online instruction (or equivalent) which students can undertake in their own time.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative feedback will be provided for the Presentation (Assignment 1). This feedback supports the development of Assignment 2 (Learning Journal).

Reassessment

Additional costs