All Courses
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18th-Century Literature: An Introduction
In this module, Dr James Smith (Royal Holloway, London) provides an introduction to the literature of the 18th century. The course begins by exploring what writers of the 18th century thought about writing itself, focusing in particular on Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism (1711) and Elizabeth Montagu's Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare (1769). After that, we... Read more
Achebe: Things Fall Apart
In this course, Professor Stephen Morton (University of Southampton) discusses Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel Things Fall Apart. The course begins by introducing the author himself and the publication on the novel, before moving on in the second module to think about narrative techniques in the novel. In the third module, we focus on the historical and geographical setting of... Read more
Aeschylus: Agamemnon
In this course, Dr Oliver Thomas (University of Nottingham) explores Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, the first part of Aeschylus’ great trilogy, the Oresteia, which was first performed in Athens in 458 BC. After a brief introduction to the trilogy as a whole, we spend some time thinking about two key concepts in the play—justice and human responsibility—before moving on to think about... Read more
African Kingdoms, c.1400-c.1800
In this course, Dr Toby Green (King's College, London) explores the history of four West African kingdoms in the period c.1400-1800. After a broad introduction to West African history as a whole and some of the ways in which it differs from European history, the second, third, fourth and fifth modules each explore a different kingdom via a particular question. First, we... Read more
Alexander the Great
In this course, we explore the life, achievements, and legacy of Alexander the Great. In particular, we look at Alexander’s military career, his women and his relationship with the gods to ask the question, Alexander the Great – hero or villain? Read more
Ancient Sparta
In this lecture, Professor Paul Cartledge (University of Cambridge) examines the ancient city-state of Sparta. In the first module, we discuss the evidence for ancient Sparta, noting the tendency for both contemporary and later writers to exaggerate stories about Sparta in what historians now refer to as the "Spartan mirage". After that, we look at the Spartan education... Read more
Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, AD 878-1066
In this course, Dr Benjamin Pohl (University of Bristol) explores Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest. The course begins by considering where the Normans came from, focusing in particular on the Viking raids of the ninth and tenth centuries AD, and the creation of the Duchy of Normandy in AD 911. In the second module, we think about the development of the Norman... Read more
Aristophanes: Acharnians
In this course, Dr Rosie Wyles (University of Kent) provides a close reading and analysis of Aristophanes' Acharnians, focusing in particular on the prescribed material for the OCR A-Level in Classical Greek. All passages are presented in the original Greek with a facing English translation, while commentary includes discussion of the juxtaposition of politics and poetics in... Read more
Aristophanes and Athens
This course provides a critical study of three plays of Aristophanes – The Acharnians (425 BC), The Knights (424 BC) and Peace (421 BC) – in their theatrical, religious, social, and political context. In particular, we explore the presentation of a few of many real Athenians that appear in the play (e.g. Cleon, Lamachus, Demosthenes, Nicias), before considering the... Read more
Aristophanes: Clouds
In this course, we explore Aristophanes’ Clouds, thinking in particular about where the play sits in Aristophanes’ life and career, its distinctive structure and themes, the presentation of Socrates in the play, and what it is that makes the play so appealing. Read more
Aristophanes: Frogs
This course provides close reading and analysis of Aristophanes’ Frogs, focusing on the prescribed material for the OCR A-Level in Classical Greek. All passages are presented in the original Greek with a facing English translation, while commentary includes discussion of the historical context of the play, the language and style of Aristophanic comedy and its characters, and... Read more
Aristophanes: Introduction
Aristophanes was the pre-eminent comic playwright of Classical Athens, whose bold and uninhibited plays such as ‘Wasps’ and ‘Frogs’ offered scathing satires of Classical Athens’ political institutions as well as her most famous personalities, and even her gods. In this course, we think about the world that Aristophanes lived in and his comic output, focusing in particular... Read more