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Nineteenth-Century Sensation and Spectacle unit (HEN203)

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Location: Hobart, Online

Introduction

This unit considers the 19th-century fascination with narratives of scandal, transgression, criminality, and irrationality, referred to as narratives of “sensation”. The unit may cover genres like the gothic, colonial adventure fiction, detective fiction, and the “sensation novel”, and the appearance of these genres in “respectable” realist fiction of the period, as well as extracts from texts like penny dreadfuls and advertisements, and biological, criminological, imperial, moral, or feminist texts. Providing an introduction to the literary and cultural history of the century, and introducing key writers, the unit asks why readers were fascinated by sensation narratives, and what these narratives tell us about the dreams and anxieties of 19th-century society.

Summary

Unit name Nineteenth-Century Sensation and Spectacle
Unit code HEN203
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline English
Coordinator Doctor Robbie Moore
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Intermediate

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 1 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
Online Semester 1 This unit is available through off-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
Note

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Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 22/2/2026 16/3/2026 19/4/2026 13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyse selected nineteenth-century texts demonstrating knowledge of: a. their style and form and cultural and historical contexts b. key theories and practices of literary studies
  • Construct an argument supported by: a. evidence from your chosen texts b. reference to secondary sources
  • Communicate through: a. written essays b. presentations c. class discussions

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
091523 $592.00 $592.00 not applicable $2,101.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

HEN303 AND HEA257-A

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

On Campus:
Weekly on-campus lectorial (1 hour); weekly tutorials (1.5 hours)

Off Campus:
Weekly live-streamed lectorial (1 hour) (also available as a recording); weekly online participation

AssessmentTutorial/ Online Audiovisual Presentation (20%)|Seminar / Online Participation (30%)|Research essay (50%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

See the MyLO page for a full list of readings.
Recommended

See the MyLO page for a full list of readings.

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