All Courses
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H. G. Wells: The War of the Worlds
In this course, Dr Steve McLean explores H. G. Wells' 1898 novel The War of the Worlds. We begin by thinking about Wells' literary career, focusing in particular on his work as a scientific journalist as well as his interest in the social and political issues of the day. After that, we think about how the novel engages with contemporary theories about the possibility of... Read more
H. G. Wells: The War of the Worlds
In this course, Dr Keith Williams (University) explores H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. We begin by thinking about the concept of ‘Mars fever’, focusing in particular on the reasons behind the resurgent interest in the planet in the late 19th century and how this interest was captured in the novels of Wells’ predecessors and contemporaries. After that, we think about the... Read more
Homer: Iliad
In this course, we explore several aspects of Homer’s Iliad. The course begins with a consideration of one of the most fundamental questions asked of the Homeric epics – the so-called Homeric Question – which asks whether the Iliad was the work of a single poet or many. After that, we examine one of the key episodes of the poem, the Embassy to Achilles, before exploring the... Read more
Homer: Iliad
In this course, Professor Barbara Graziosi (Durham University) explores Homer’s Iliad. In the first module, we focus on the so-called ‘Homeric Question’, focusing on how and when the poem was composed, who composed it, as well as what it was like in performance. After that, we turn our attention to the driving force of the poem—namely, the rage of Achilles. In the third... Read more
Homer: Odyssey
In this course, Professor Barbara Graziosi (University of Durham) explores Homer's Odyssey. We begin by thinking about the figure of Odysseus himself, focusing in particular on his status as a man 'of many turns' (Greek: polutropos). After that, we provide a brief summary of the plot and structure of the poem, before turning in the third module to the workings of divine... Read more
Homer: Odyssey
In this course, Professor Richard Jenkyns (University of Oxford) explores Homer's Odyssey. We begin by thinking about the nature of the poem, focusing in particular on the nature of oral poetry and the Odyssey's relationship (if any) with the Iliad. After that, we think about the structure of the poem, including the idea that there are two kinds of Odysseus here, before... Read more
Homer: Odyssey
In this course, we discuss four key themes in Homer's Odyssey. In the first module, we concentrate on the concept of oral poetry - the idea that the Odyssey was not originally written down, but passed orally from generation to generation - and the impact the poem's unique origin on its final, written form. In the second module, we explore the theme of the Homeric hero,... Read more
Homer: The Worlds of the Iliad and Odyssey
In a special set of two lectures, Dr Elton Barker (Open University) explores the worlds of the Homeric epics, suggesting in particular that both the Iliad and the Odyssey question the use of violence as a means of conflict-resolution. In the first module, we focus on the Iliad and Achilles' decision to summon an assembly in response to the dispute with Chryses. While this... Read more
Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
In this course, Professor Helen Beebee (University of Manchester) explores one of the most foundational texts of modern philosophy, David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. The course begins by exploring Hume's explanation of how we come to know what (we think) we know, before moving on in the second module to look more specifically at the justification for... Read more
Ibsen: A Doll's House
In this course, Dr Sophie Duncan (University of Oxford) explores Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, which premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen in December 1879. The course begins by introducing Ibsen's life and times, his inspiration for the plot of the play, and the story of how the play transitioned from the Scandinavian to the British stage. After that, we think about... Read more
International Relations in Europe, 1914-39
In this course, Professor David Stevenson (London School of Economics) explores international relations in Europe in the period 1914-39. We begin by thinking about the origins of the First World War and the extent to which each of the major powers was responsible for the outbreak of war in 1914. After that, in the second module, we think about why the war carried on for as... Read more
Ireland in the 20th Century, 1912-Present
This course explores the making of modern Ireland, beginning in 1912 and ending in the modern day, and is split into five modules. The first module ('Birth of a Nation, 1912-32') looks at the violent period in Irish history between 1912-23 and attempts to stabilise the political and economic situation from 1923-32. The second module ('De Valera's Achievements, 1932-48')... Read more