English Literature

1) How effectively does contemporary British writing explore issues on ethnicity
Contemporary literature have can be observed to possess a lot of difference from how literature used to be in the past. A lot of more modern pieces of literature today do not touch the same values and ideals that the past forms of literature addressed. However, some literature, like the British literature can be observed to display the goodness of both the modern and traditional forms of literature. As what can be observed in the given readings, British literature can still be considered to touch the issues that delve on issues about ethnicity. Just like in any other cultures, British authors still appears to be sensitive on these issues as they address issues like racial discrimination and ethnic prejudice which can be observed in Joe Penhall s BlueOrange. Considering that these are some of the most sensitive issues in the world, it can be deduced that the British literature remains sensitive about these societal predicaments along with all the other culture in the world.
2) In what ways, and to what effect, does contemporary British writing explore questions of gender andor sexuality
But aside from these that involve race and ethnicity, the British literature can also be observed to deal a lot about gender and sexuality. Just like race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality are also two of the most prevalent subject matters in literature due to the issues that emanate from them. Some of the world s most sensitive and crucial issues come from the larger issues of gender and sexuality. The British grounds have not been freed from issues like these. This is what pushed British awareness and sensitivity to issues as such. Over the years, it can be observed from a lot of British novels and other works of literature have dealt on these subject matter. And as strong as the authors  convictions were the reception of the readers.  This just shows how sensitive the British literature remains on issues like these.
3) Why have shock and transgression been such important features of contemporary British writing
Even in other cultures, violence, shock and transgression have been important aspects of literature. These themes are usually applied on texts about wars and revolutions that appear significant in world history. In British literature, these themes also pose significant effects. The Great Britain has been an active participant in some of the world s most gruesome and terrible revolutions. The effects of these wars on people have apparently posted considerable effects not just on their lives but also on the overall British society, which can be observed in Roy Williams  Fallout and Niall Griffith s Sheepshagger. The ideals of shock and transgression have evidently been important aspects of the British contemporary literature as a lot of real-life events delving on these themes can be observed in the British society. Thus, from this observation, it can be deduced that the British literature has been reflecting the real-life events and realities over the years. Through the years, British have undergone several events of shock and transgression, and all that the British authors did was to portray these real-life realities into pieces of crafted literature, which can be observed today.
4) How has the representation of youth culture changes the forms of contemporary British writing
It can be observed that during the earlier years, the youth was not that dynamic and proactive as compared to how they are today. Nowadays, the youth are very visible in different movements and campaigns. They also appear to be more sensitive in national and societal issues that make them more involved in these issues. The British youth are no exception to this claim. And because of the perceived development in the youth s involvement in major national issues, the media as well as the British literature have been very inspired by such dynamics and power. This power has made the youth seem to dominate the world in terms of high spirits and positivism. This greatly stirred the British literature. In the British Contemporary literature, it can be observed that more and more authors are featuring this kind of hype which comes from the high spirits of the youth. This appears very significant to note since more of literary works today are actually addressed to the youth as compared to before.
5) In what was have the authors on the course used literary form to represent minority groups and their issues
The representation of the minority groups in literature is not a new deal for British authors. In different culture, this is a very important consideration as well. The depiction of these minority groups does not just make readers more sensitive and respectful to the more traditional cultures in the world, but this depiction also widens the horizon of readers when it comes to understanding indigenous cultures. Based on the texts reviewed in this course, it is apparent that British authors are not yet losing their respect and interest on representing indigenous cultures. In a lot of contemporary British novels, depiction of minority groups and indigenous traditions is very apparent. These groups are even being associated to the development in the more contemporary societies. Most British authors utilize this representation to present diversity and equality between modernization and the preservation of culture. This depiction does not only show how British authors respect minority groups, but this implies that indigenous culture still play an important role and consideration to today s modern culture.
6) Fictional experiment has long since ceased to be an avant-garde outrage and become an available convention (Malcolm Bradburry, The Modern British Novel 1878-2001 (2001)). Does this statement still ring true for British literature of the 21st century
Fictional experiments have long been considered to be a part of the post-modern British literature. A lot of British authors appeared skeptical and disbelieving about such an ideal before because of the uncertainty that goes with it. However, over the years, a lot of British authors have been introduced to the literary strategy and they were able to adapt and absorb its functions. Over the years it can also be observed that more and more authors are complying to fictional experiment as a literary strategy which made a lot of authors acquainted and familiarized to it. This claim can be clearly observed in the texts reviewed in this course. The prevalence of this style to a lot of British literary works today appears to be an indicant that the notion the fictional experiment is not seen as an avant-garde outrage of the post modern British literature since it has been accepted and adapted to by a lot of British authors, as what can be observed in the reviewed texts in this course.
7) Discuss to what extent the idea of cultural hybridity is central to contemporary British Fiction today, using examples from the module.
Cultural hybridity has been an important ideal in the current generation. It has posted a lot of implications in the current society, the reason why it has been regarded with utmost attention by a lot of societal institutions such as the mass media, the academe as well as literature. In several texts included in this module, this issue has been tackled. It can be observed that in the contemporary British literature, most of the issues being tapped are actually the most dominant issues in the society. These issues and ideals are usually the ones that post the greatest implications and significance in the modern society, the reason why, literature has to play its part in explicating such issues like issues concerning cultural hybridity. As what can be observed in the society today, any ideal that deals with culture is being considered as a sensitive issue. This is because a lot of issues regarding cultural sensitivity are being perceived to do a lot of considerable effects on the society in a lot of aspects. This can be considered as the main reason why the British literature has never ceased in tackling issues like this.
8) Use two texts from the module to considere whether Britain today is or is not a class-less society.
Aside from all of these abovementioned issues, class is usually one of the most sensitive issues being tackled in the society. Over the years, the issues of economic, political, and societal classes have created a huge gap between people. This became a serious issue since this is where atrocity and discrimination originate. This issue did not place an exception on the British grounds. Over the years, social classes have been present in the Great Britain which can be proved through the several pieces of literary works that reflect the social classes that existed during the earlier years. However, as time went, it can be observed that these classes gradually began to dismantle. Due to the development of stronger efforts to unite people into one solid organization, social classes began to destabilize. This became apparent on a lot of contemporary British literary works. In these modern works, it can be seen that divisions and gaps between people are not being depicted anymore. Seldom do authors portray any class which divides people into beliefs, economic status or political hierarchies. This is a clear manifestation that such an issue might have been ceasing overtime.
9) In what way do authors on this module use the setting of the modern urban or suburban environment
In almost all literary works, the setting plays a very significant factor in the overall quality of literature. Most often than not, this literary element define the atmosphere and environment that play significant functions in building up the main message of any literary work. In most British literary work, it can be perceived that the depiction of urban and sub-urban settings is still dominant. Because of the perceived nobility and grandiose of the British society, this kind of setting appears inevitable to be applied to these works. Most British authors utilized such kind of settings in novels where characters portray family life. This has become one if not the most prevalent setting used in most British literary works.
10) Do you find evidence of the often talked about  crisis  of British identity or  broken Britain  in the texts on this module
Aside from all of these abovementioned issues, one of the most critical issues appears to the crisis Brought by the weak British identity. This issues has long been identified in the British society however a lot of people preferred to stay meek about it until literature began emphasizing on it as a serious national issue. In most of the works featured in this module, this claim can be clearly seen. Unlike the American nationalistic spirit, the British national identity was long perceived to be weaker. A lot of factors have been attributed to this, but this dilemma continued to hunt the British society through the years. Just like on any other societal issue, literature was expected to address on this predicament. And over the years, it can be seen that the British literature never failed to address such an issue and make it clear among British that this issue is not a simple problem to be taken for granted. This emphasis can as well be observed in most literary works on this module. This implies that just like on any other societal issue, British authors remain vigilant and sensitive on issues concerning the British national identity.