Resolving mixed Hodge modules on configuration spaces

Given a mixed Hodge module E on a scheme X over the complex numbers, and a quasi-projective morphism f:X->S, we construct in this paper a natural resolution of the nth exterior tensor power of E restricted to the nth configuration space of f. The construction is reminiscent of techniques from the theory of hyperplane arrangements, and relies on Arnold's calculation of the cohomology of the configuration space of the complex line. This resolution is S_n-equivariant. We apply it to the universal elliptic curve with complete level structure of level N>=3 over the modular curve Y(N), obtaining a formula for the S_n-equivariant Serre polynomial (Euler characteristic of H^*_c(V,Q) in the Grothendieck group of the category of mixed Hodge structures) of the moduli space M_{1,n}. In a sequel to this paper, this is applied in the calculation of the S_n-equivariant Hodge polynomial of the compactication \bar{M}_{1,n}.