English Literature

Course summary

Close study of literature exposes you to the breadth and depth of the human experience - the joyful, the tragic and the downright bizarre. You will focus on a selection of the best writing in English over the past thousand years from Geoffrey Chaucer to Tennessee Williams, from William Shakespeare to Cynthia Bond. In the first term, you will explore a wide variety of texts covering the three main genres (poetry, prose and drama) which might form the backbone of your coursework assignments. You will also take a close look at some dystopian fiction, or perhaps some American literature. You will soon move to study of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and some more modern drama. During the two year course you will cover eight texts in depth. You will explore the ways texts were received in their own time, as well as considering the ways new readers approach them: English literature offers you the opportunity to engage with ghosts of the past and breathe new life into them. Importantly, as well as affording you the opportunity to engage with some of the best literature in the world, the study of English literature will also hone your skills as a critical reader and you will inevitably become a more accomplished writer. The new syllabus provides the opportunity for personalised coursework assignments. You will write two pieces, one of which takes the form of a creative or critical response to one text, whilst the other is a comparative study of two other texts. All texts studied for the coursework unit are published post-1900 and one is post-2000, ensuring that a clear emphasis on modern literature is maintained. An individualised approach is encouraged here, allowing you to pursue your own interests.