58勛圖

GM4046 Medieval Things

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof B M E Bildhauer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof B Bildhauer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

One of humanity's fundamental assumptions is that we self-determined humans are superior to inanimate objects. Medieval literature, however, is full of things that have powers over humans and act like them: they can speak, feel, move, have names and biographies: swords, relics, books, stones, coats and others. This module investigates the supernatural and natural powers of things in a range of texts, such as romances. We will also gain an overview of the recent 'thing theories' trying to understand the continued agency of objects from a variety of postmodern perspectives, and compare them to the medieval conceptions.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS GM2004 OR PASS GM2008 OR PASS GM2002 OR PASS GM2010

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

90-minute seminar

Scheduled learning hours

28

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

122

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.