Modern War Writing

New for 2024!

This paper offers students the opportunity to explore central themes and problems in modern literary culture through the specific genre of war writing. Students may choose to focus their research question on traditional literary forms—the novel, poetry, theatre—or on more popular forms of writing, including journalism or memoirs. While the focus will be primarily on writing, students may choose to work comparatively across verbal and visual forms, glancing also at painting, photography, film, or digital media.

Intended audience

Open to students from all disciplines.

Previous knowledge

Previous experience with 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

A dissertation of no more than 3,000 words: 100% of the total.

Research Topics

The specific research focus of your project will be confirmed with guidance from your supervisor, but research topics may focus on a particular war, a particular author or literary movement, or a combination thereof. Example research topics include: 

• Victorian war memoirs
• Lyric poetry of the First World War
• The postcolonial war novel
• Wars in science fiction
• Nuclear warfare in the American novel
• Contemporary war poetry and witnessing
• Accounts by ‘embedded’ journalists.

Prefer to follow a research idea of your own?

Take a look at the Open Stream.