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A Module in Haunting Tales
• Non-Sequential Series
Mixed Lecture/Discussion
The Haunting of Hill House (1959) by Shirley Jackson is a classic of Gothic horror, a haunted house tale lauded by critics, loved by readers, and repeatedly adapted for stage and screen for more than half a century. What makes this novel a successful example of its genre? Why has it spoken to generations of readers? How does its messages represent and/or transcend its time? In this module we will explore the context and inspirations for The Haunting of Hill House, its popular and critical receptions, its place in Shirley Jackson’s larger body of work, and its impact on contemporary readers.
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
| Outline | 8-Session Structure |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Lecture 1: Shirley Jackson and Genre |
| Discussion 1: Chapters 1-3 | |
| Week 2 | Lecture 2: Haunted Spaces |
| Discussion 2: Chapters 4-5 | |
| Week 3 | Lecture 3: Ancestor Texts |
| Discussion 3: Chapters 6-9 | |
| Week 4 | Lecture 4: Critical Receptions and Descendant Texts |
| Discussion 4: Themes and Takeaways |
Required Texts
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (any edition).
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This will be a Hybrid class (4 lectures & 4 discussion sessions). Each week will consist of 1 hour of recorded lecture and 1 hour of live discussion (not recorded) for a total of 8 class hours over the course of the month.
Delivery Plan
• The first session each week will be a pre-recorded lecture sent to students at least 2 days before the live discussion session.
• The second session each week will be a live discussion session (not recorded).
Delivery Plan
• The first session each week will be a pre-recorded lecture sent to students at least 2 days before the live discussion session.
• The second session each week will be a live discussion session (not recorded).
Days and Times
Schedule for the weekly discussion session to be Determined by Early Voters
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