Venturing into stories of the eerie and the weird, this weekend will focus on the abiding power of the ghost story. Beginning with classics of the genre from Henry James and Dickens, we will also look at contemporary writing and film which have explored the contemporary uncanny. As we think about new and old forms of haunting, we will delve into the strange landscapes of 'folk horror' and examine the idea of 'eco-gothic'.
Teaching sessions
- The weird, the eerie and the ghostly: an introduction. An introductory lecture and a close look at Charles Dickens’ short story ‘The Signal-Man’
- ‘A trap for the unwary’: Henry James' ‘The Turn of the Screw’
- ‘The Turn of the Screw’ continued
- Daphne Du Maurier’s eco-gothic: ‘The Apple Tree’ and ‘The Birds’
- Dark academia: MR James and Cambridge Ghosts (‘O, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’; ‘The Mezzotint’; ‘The Ash-tree’)
- Folk horror: roots
- Folk horror: branches (including Sarah Moss’ short novel 'Ghost Wall')
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Key features
Course delivery and schedule
Each weekend course features seven sessions (1.5 hours each) running from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime plus regular breaks for meals and refreshments. On Saturday there’s also a longer break after lunch to relax, read or enjoy the gardens of Madingley Hall.
Course overview
We will begin with classics of the genre from Henry James (The Turn of the Screw) and Dickens (‘The Signal-Man’) and then go on to explore Daphne Du Maurier’s eco-gothic tales where protagonists find themselves battling with a predatory, unsettling natural world. We’ll join another master of creepiness, Cambridge’s own M. R. James, for an evening session examining his tales, which take us into libraries, churches and Fenland landscapes. As we think about new and old forms of haunting, we will delve into the strange landscapes of 'folk horror', thinking about the uses of folklore in these nineteenth and twentieth century works. Modern folk horror is not always easily defined, but we can trace film-makers and writers who have looked back into folklore and regional stories and unearthed long forgotten tales and monsters, or invented their own, in a kind of archaeological sifting for narrative energy. This modern folk horror often touches on the emergence of the past in the present or the ‘return of the repressed’ and in so doing becomes a powerful space in which to examine contemporary anxieties and dread, from domestic violence to climate change. In our final sessions, we will also look at contemporary writing and film which have explored the contemporary uncanny, examining contemporary cinema and taking up Sarah Moss’ stunning novella Ghost Wall as our concluding text.
Aims
This course aims to:
- explore the literary history of ghost stories and eerie tales
- develop close-reading and critical skills for literary analysis
- investigate recent developments in the genre and critical terms such as ‘folk horror’ and ‘eco-gothic’
Course sessions
Please arrive between 4:30pm and 6:30pm. You can meet other course members in the Bar which opens at 6:15pm. Tea and coffee-making facilities are available in the bedrooms.
Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:30pm to 10:00pm | The weird, the eerie and the ghostly: an introduction We’ll begin by setting out some key terms for our discussion with an introductory lecture and a close look at Charles Dickens’s short story ‘The Signal-Man’ (1866) |
| 10:00pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | ‘A trap for the unwary’: Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw is often cited as one of the greatest ghost stories of all time. However, critics have wrangled endlessly over the story’s interpretation and the effects of the story’s twisty construction. We will discuss the significance of haunted houses and the importance of the landscape of Bly, and consider the uses of ambiguity and uncertainty in the setting of what James called his ‘trap for the unwary’. |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | The Turn of the Screw continued |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Free time |
| 4:00pm | Tea |
| 4:30pm to 6:00pm | Daphne Du Maurier’s eco-gothic: ‘The Apple Tree’ and ‘The Birds’. This session explores how Daphne du Maurier fuses Gothic horror with ecological anxiety, using The Apple Tree (1952) and The Birds (1952) to probe the uneasy relationship between humans and the natural world. We’ll examine how landscapes, weather, and nonhuman life become agents of menace, transforming everyday rural settings into sites of uncanny threat, where nature both resists and rewrites human control. |
| 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm to 9:30pm | Dark academia: MR James and Cambridge Ghosts (‘O, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’ (1904); ‘The Mezzotint’ (1904); ‘The Ash-tree’ (1904)) Looking at three tales from M R James’ Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) we’ll explore how James’s ghost stories blend antiquarian detail, academic settings, and uncanny intrusions to create a peculiarly Cambridge brand of horror. We’ll consider how objects, landscapes, and architecture become conduits for supernatural dread, and how James turns erudition itself into a source of terror. We’ll also consider James’ uses of folklore and how his careful crafted tales combine the modern and the ancient to eerie effect |
| 9:30pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Folk Horror: roots Our final two sessions focus on the newly popular genre of folk horror, examining its origins, its first heyday in the television and cinema of the 1970s and its recent reemergence in film and literature. We’ll also look at some of the folk tales which inspired the genre, lingering in the landscape of the East Anglian Fens for a little while longer. |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | Folk horror: branches Continuing our discussion of the nature of folk horror we’ll look at its development in contemporary literature and film. This session will use Sarah Moss’ short novel Ghost Wall as a focal point and we’ll think about the continued presence of the supernatural and eerie in literary fiction. |
| 12:45pm | Lunch |
The course ends after lunch.
Presentation of the course
The course will be taught through a combination of informal lectures and class discussions. You are encouraged to read as many of the listed texts as possible so that we can enjoy lively discussion.
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject, and you should be able to:
- describe aspects of the literary history of the ghost story and folk horror
- analyse the style and form of specific ghost stories and novellas
- gain confidence in literary analysis through discussion and testing your own ideas against critical opinions and theories
Reading and resources list
If possible, please read the following two texts in advance of the course:
- Henry James, The Turn of the Screw (if possible, please bring a copy with you to class; any edition will do, eBooks are also fine and the story is available to read online at Project Gutenberg. Jenny recommends the Oxford University Press edition, The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Stories (ed. T. J. Lustig, 2008)
- Moss, Sarah, Ghost Wall (Granta, 2018)
Venue and accommodation
About Madingley Hall
Built in the 16th century, Madingley Hall is set in eight acres of landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown. Madingley is just four miles from the centre of Cambridge and 60 minutes from London, with excellent links to London airports.
As a student you will enjoy award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall and first-rate facilities in an inspiring setting.
Accommodation
You can book to stay in the comfortable rooms at Madingley Hall, with views over the woods, gardens and courtyard. Each en-suite room has wi-fi, TV, phone, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is also included.
A lift gives access to two bedrooms adapted for wheelchair users. All ground floor areas can be reached once inside the building. A lift also gives access to first floor teaching rooms for those unable to use stairs. Let us know any additional requirements when booking.
If you choose to stay nearby, no problem. You’ll still be able to enjoy the grounds during the day and enjoy the award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall. Lunch and dinner is included in the course price.
If space permits, non-participant guests over the age of 18 may accompany a course attendee for the weekend.
For information on accommodation fees, see our ‘Fees and funding’ section below.
Dietary requirements
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please indicate these when booking.
Getting to Madingley Hall
Madingley Hall is located in the village of Madingley (CB23 8AQ), four miles west of Cambridge. It is easily accessible from the M11, A14 and A428.
If you are arriving in Cambridge by train you can take a taxi to Madingley Hall. Please contact Reception to book a taxi for your return journey.
Parking
Free on-site car parking is available and we have a small number of spaces close to the Hall entrance for Blue Badge holders.
Fees
| Weekend course | Fee |
|---|---|
| Including tuition, lunches, evening meals, tea and coffee | £435 |
| Accommodation, including bed and breakfast | Fee for Friday and Saturday night |
|---|---|
| Single room (£85 per night) | £170 |
| Double or twin room: shared with another course attendee (£65 per night, per person) | £130 |
| Double or twin room: for single occupancy (£110 per night) | £220 |
| Double or twin room for a guest (not attending a course) sharing with a course attendee: £65 per night plus 20% VAT | £156 |
| Meals for guests | Fee (including 20% VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dinner: Friday and Saturday. Lunch: Saturday and Sunday | £162 |
Guests must pay for accommodation and meals. These charges are subject to VAT.
Accommodation for verified carers is provided free of charge however, meals must be paid for.
If you’re sharing a room with a carer, please use the 'Ask a question' button to discuss further details before the booking deadline.
Booking extra nights
Want to stay longer? You can book the Sunday night after your course at the same weekend bed and breakfast rate. Please note that dinners are not provided on a Sunday evening.
If you wish to arrive early (before Friday) you will need to make a separate booking with Madingley Hall (charges may differ).
Financial support
We offer a range of concessions for our weekend courses:
- State School Teacher Concession: 25% reduction of tuition fee for any teacher with Qualified Teacher Status working in a UK state-funded school or Further Education institution.
- Benefits Concession: 25% reduction of tuition fee for recipients of a UK state benefit. Examples of benefits may include Universal Credit, Job Seekers’ Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance or Attendance Allowance, or Pension Credit.
- University of Cambridge staff concession: 25% reduction of tuition fee for employees who hold a permanent contract of employment with the University.
- Cambridge Alumni (CAMCard) concession: 10% reduction of tuition fee for Cambridge University alumni.
You will be asked to upload current proof of status for all concessions when booking. If you are applying for the Benefits Concession, you must be in receipt of the benefit at the time of booking and documents must be dated within the last 12 months.
Please see our concessions page for further details.
Who can attend?
Our weekend courses are open to all adult learners. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. No academic qualifications are required, most courses are suitable for students who are new to the subject. Please complete any required reading listed in your course materials before the course starts. This enables you to fully participate and get the maximum enjoyment out of your course.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to be confident understanding and following discussions presented in written and spoken English at University level and will need to satisfy yourself that you have the appropriate level of English language proficiency. As a guide, we would suggest you need near-native command of the language, with levels around IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 92. Please contact us if you are unsure.
Student support and welfare
We welcome learners of all backgrounds and abilities and are committed to providing learners with disabilities and/or medical conditions equal opportunities and access to their chosen course of study.
We are committed to developing an inclusive learning and teaching environment and will seek to make reasonable adjustments where possible to enable learners to reach their full potential whilst studying with us.
Please let us know about any support requirements when booking so that we can work to support you.
Late bookings
Whilst we accept late bookings, for sustainability reasons we cannot always accommodate complex dietary/allergen or other additional support requirements for any bookings received or any dietary/additional support requirements notified after the booking deadline. Please consider this if you are asking to book after the deadline and have special dietary or additional support requirements.
Booking a weekend course
To book a weekend course click the 'Book now' button in the course details section on this page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address and pay for your course by credit or debit card.
If the course is full, the ‘Book now’ button will be replaced with ‘Add to waitlist’.
Please let us know about any support requirements when booking so that we can work to support you.
Payments
Payment can be made by credit/debit card using our secure online booking system, unless otherwise arranged. You can pay in full at the time of booking or pay in two instalments (the first instalment will be 15% of the full fee, the 85% balance will be taken automatically two weeks before the course starts if your payment card is stored in our system). For bookings received later than 14 days before the start of the course, payment must be made in full.
Booking deadlines
Bookings close 5 days before the start of the course. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking, the ‘Book now’ button will be replaced with ‘Add to waitlist’. Please add yourself to the waiting list and we will notify you, by email, if a place becomes available. We always recommend that you book early and well before the booking deadline to avoid disappointment.
Booking terms and conditions
Before booking your course, please ensure that you have read and understood our booking terms and conditions.
