Programme structure
Year 1
The core modules, Past and Present and Culture and Criticism, explore the history of literature, from the earliest Greek epic to contemporary texts, and offer ways of reading literature from a variety of theoretical perspectives. You will study the works of some of the giants of literature (such as Homer, Shakespeare, Austen and Joyce) together with the history of the major theories that have shaped literature and literary criticism (such as Marxism and feminism).
Year 2
This year offers an in-depth exploration of the themes and literary trends initially encountered in year one. Expert tutors lead each period-based module, and students have the opportunity to discuss literature in its cultural and historical context. Authors studied in the past at this level include: John Milton, John Donne, Alexander Pope, Emily Brontë, Charles Dickens, Margaret Atwood and Arundhati Roy.
Year 3
There are two core modules and two optional modules, which vary each year according to demand and staffing requirements. The core modules are Literature and the Environment and the dissertation. The Literature and the Environment module offers a chance to understand through experience how literature is embedded in the environment. For the dissertation, you will carry out a piece of research under the supervision of a member of English department staff.
