ENGL 2042 - Icons of Decadence
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ENGL 2042 Course Icons of Decadence Coordinating Unit English, Creative Writing, and Film Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study Assumed Knowledge High level of English literacy skills Biennial Course Course offered in odd years Assessment Participation, Seminar Presentation, Close Reading, Essay Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Maggie Tonkin
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate specialised knowledge of late-nineteenth-century cultural history and of a series of important literary texts from the period.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and debates taking place in Victorian Studies and late-nineteenth-century literature.
3. Demonstrate oral and written analytic and critical skills through the contextualised discussion, and close reading, of selected late-nineteenth-century literature.
4. Demonstrate independent research skills, the ability to synthesise a range of information and argument, and capacity to formulate and articulate considered points of view in writing.
5. Participate in productive and respectful discussion with peers.
6. Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate technologies for research and the presentation of oral and written work.
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
2, 3, 4, 6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
3, 5, 6 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
3, 4, 5, 6 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
1, 2, 6 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Provisional
Short fiction – in Course Readings
Conan Doyle, The Sign of Four
H Rider Haggard, She
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
H G Wells, The Time Machine
Poetry – in Course Readings
Bram Stoker, Dracula
J M Barrie, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Peter and Wendy
R L Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeAll books are in the library and available from Dymocks
Online Learning
All lectures will be recorded and available online via MyUni. Short fiction and poetry will be availabe online via Course Readings. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures will introduce students to the historical context of the fin de siecle, and to some of the key cultural and scientific debates of the period. They will introduce the authors and texts to be studied in order to provide a framework for students' own reading and research and for class discussion. Seminars will allow students to explore key aspects of the selected texts through class presentations and small and large group discussions.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
1x 1 hour lecture per week (x 12)= 12 hours
1x 2 hour seminar per week (x12) =24 hours
1x 3.5 hours reading per week (x12)=42 hours
1 x 3 hours research per week (x12)=36 hours
1x 3 hours assignment preparation er week (x12) =36 hours
TOTAL= 150 hours
Learning Activities Summary
Lectures provide a general introduction to the key debates of this tumultuous period, and introductions to the selected authors and texts, which will provide a basis for the own explorations in seminars and in assignments.
Week 1: Introduction to the Period and the Course
Week 2: Sexual politics and literary form: short fiction
Week 3: Sexual politics and literary form: short fiction
Week 4: Crime, empire and masculinity: Sherlock Holmes
Week 5: Imperial Adventure fiction: Rider Haggard's She
Week 6: Masculinity and Decadence: Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Week 7: Regression and the double life: R.L. Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and My Hyde
Week 8: Degeneration and time: H.G. Wells' The Time Machine
Week 9: Poetry of Decadence
Week 10: Fantasies of corruption: Bram Stoker's Dracula
Week 11: The refusal of time: J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Peter and Wendy
Week 12: Conclusion and review -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assignemnts may include the following: class participation and seminar leadership, online quizzes, and essaysAssessment Detail
Students are expected to have read the set texts and listened to the lecture before attending seminars, so that they can contribute actively to discussions.
Online quizzes (15%)
Students will complete online weekly quizzes on the set texts.
Class participation and seminar presentation (10%)
Students will give a short presentation to the class on an aspect of one of the set texts, and will provide 2-3 discussion questions and lead small and large group discussion, with support from the tutor. Topics will be suggested but students are encouraged to develop their own topics in negotiation with the tutor.
Seminar Essay (35%)
One week after their seminar presentation, students will submit a 1,500 word essay on the subject of their presentation.
Final Essay (40%)
Students will write a comparative essay on two texts from the course. Questions will be provided but students can also develop their own question in negotiation with their tutor.Submission
Quizzes will be completed online via MyUni.
Class presentations will be presented orally in class, with powerpoints submitted via MyUni.
Seminar and research essays will be submitted online via MyUni and marked using Turnitin.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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