English Literature

Course summary

English Literature is an exciting subject which ought to appeal appeal to anyone who enjoys stories, books, language or all of the above, and who has a reasonably open mind. The first year involves the study of Tragedy as a literary genre; that famous type of story in which the characters are heading for disaster – and only the audience knows it! The second year will explore the genre of Political Fiction, in which the meaning and value of rulership, democracy, oppression and revolution are put to the test in novels, plays and poems. The second year also involves students beginning to consider Literary Theory. Students will read eight texts over the course – a range of novels, plays, and poems – texts that will be both read for enjoyment and subjected to a great deal of intensive questioning and analysis. Students will be encouraged in their own wider reading, and to develop their familiarity with the course authors by reading around the set texts. The department also runs a Creative Writing competition and a group of budding degree students for those with big dreams.