The Literary Style of Sexuality

New for 2024!

By closely analysing three distinct novels – Persuasion (Jane Austen), Lady Chatterley’s Lover (D.H. Lawrence), and Giovanni’s Room (James Baldwin) – this paper explores the writing styles deployed by literature to represent sexuality, and the social styles assumed by sexuality as it enters literature. 

Intended audience

Open to students from all disciplines.

Previous knowledge

Previous training in the close analysis of literary works will be helpful preparation for this paper, but any student with an interest in undertaking analysis of this kind is welcome.

Assessment

5% – A one-paragraph close reading (for the second supervision)
30% – Two brief essays of 600 words each (for the fourth and sixth supervisions)
65% – A short dissertation of 1,800-2,200 words

Students have the alternative option of making the dissertation count for 100% of the assessment.

Research Topics

The specific research focus of your project will be confirmed with guidance from your supervisor, but example research topics include:

• Courtship and marriage (plots)
• Queer identities
• Sexual and narrative convention, deviance, repression, or disability
• The body
• The limits of sexual literature or sexual literary culture.

Prefer to follow a research idea of your own?

Take a look at the Open Stream.