English Literature BA Honours

Explore the cultural and political power and pleasure of literature across period and genre. From ancient epic to modern tragedy. Study with us to learn how texts shape our world. Our English Literature BA Honours degree is an ever-evolving course. Our teaching is driven by our original, innovative research which has been formally recognised as the best in the country (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Explore innovative approaches to literature - whether that relates to the Anglo-Saxon epic or the contemporary novel. Plan your degree based on your interests, with the chance to branch out in new and exciting directions. Study canonical authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Keats alongside modern writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Samuel Selvon, Bernardine Evaristo, and Arundhati Roy. Investigate the literature of medieval warfare, the Gothic, or cultural movements such as Modernism. Study theatre and stagecraft and learn about performance on stage. We have special strengths in: • Renaissance and Romantic literature • Gothic and Women’s writing • Postcolonial and Contemporary literature All complemented by expertise in American literature, and in theatre and performance. You'll gain the practical and theoretical skills needed to analyse these works, develop well-reasoned arguments, and to communicate confidently and persuasively. We also offer a wide range of assessment options. You'll write many essays, but will also have the option to compose creative responses, or create public-facing work, such as: websites, book reviews, op-eds, theatre programmes, exhibitions. Throughout, we'll invite you to think about the impact of literature on the world and your own relation to it.