English Literature


Sort By:

English Literature

The Poetry of William Wordsworth

In this course, Professor Tom Mole (University of Edinburgh) explores the poetry of the great Romantic poet, William Wordsworth. In the first module, we look at Wordsworth's Preface to the Lyrical Ballads, in which he outlines his views on the...

5 lectures

0:45:41

Dr Tom Mole

Edinburgh University

English Literature

The Poetry of Emily Dickinson

In this course, Dr Linda Freedman (University College, London) explores the poetry of the 19th-century American poet, Emily Dickinson. The course begins with an introduction to Emily Dickinson herself, dispelling the myth that she was a an...

6 lectures

0:47:37

Dr Linda Freedman

UCL

English Literature

Chopin: The Awakening

In this course, Professor Helen Taylor (University of Exeter) explores Kate Chopin's 1899 novel, The Awakening. After a brief introduction to the writing of the American South, the course begins proper with a discussion of Kate Chopin herself –...

11 lectures

0:53:07

Prof. Helen Taylor

Exeter University

English Literature

The Poetry of William Wordsworth

In this course, Professor Keith Hanley (University of Lancaster) explores the poetry of the great Romantic poet, William Wordsworth. In the first module, we think about Romanticism, the Romantic movement, and some of the leading themes of that...

6 lectures

1:28:09

Prof. Keith Hanley

Lancaster University

English Literature

The American Dream

In this course, Dr Niall Munro (Oxford Brookes University) explores the concept of the American dream throughout American literature. In the first module, we think about the origins and nature of the dream, focusing on James Truslow Adams’...

4 lectures

0:47:54

Dr Niall Munro

Oxford Brookes University

English Literature

Conrad: Heart of Darkness

In this course, Professor Cedric Watts (University of Sussex) explores Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. The course begins by looking at Conrad's life – beginning with his upbringing in the small town of Berdychiv, and following his career as...

5 lectures

0:43:47

Prof. Cedric Watts

Sussex University

English Literature

Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra

In this course, we explore several aspects of Antony and Cleopatra. We begin by thinking about why Shakespeare was interested in writing plays that were set in Ancient Rome, before looking at a number of aspects of the play and...

5 lectures

0:44:56

Prof. John Lennard

Independent Scholar

English Literature

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

In this course, Dr Marion Turner (University of Oxford) explores the 14th-century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The course begins with an introduction to the Arthurian tradition, focusing in particular on the representations of Arthur and...

5 lectures

0:53:49

Prof. Marion Turner

University of Oxford

English Literature

Tennyson: Maud

In this course, Professor Seamus Perry (University of Oxford) explores Tennyson’s ‘Maud’ (1855), a narrative poem about man’s relationship with a sixteen-year old girl called Maud. As we move through the course, we think about the concepts of...

6 lectures

0:37:50

Prof. Seamus Perry

University of Oxford

Classics & Ancient History

English Literature

Seneca and Early Modern Drama

Shakespeare’s most famous – and infamous – tragedies draw on the Roman playwright Seneca for their dramatic form and theatrical style - including ‘Hamlet’, ‘King Lear’, and ‘Titus Andronicus’. Seneca also had a huge influence on Shakespeare’s...

8 lectures

1:41:53

Dr Helen Slaney

University of Oxford

English Literature

Beckett: Waiting for Godot

In this course, Professor Anna McMullan (University of Reading) explores Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. We begin in the first module with an overview of Beckett’s life, career and literary output. After that, we think about the mixed...

6 lectures

0:48:50

Prof. Anna McMullan

Reading University

English Literature

Feminist Literary Criticism

In this course, Dr Fiona Tolan (Liverpool John Moores University) explores the origins and application of feminist literary criticism. We start with a broad consideration of what feminism is, from its origins in the women’s suffrage movement to...

6 lectures

1:05:18

Dr Fiona Tolan

Liverpool John Moores University

English Literature

Conrad: Heart of Darkness

In this course, Professor Robert Hampson (Royal Holloway, London) explores Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. We begin by providing some of the historical context of the novel, focusing both on Conrad's own experiences as a seaman, as well as on...

6 lectures

0:55:26

Prof. Robert Hampson

Royal Holloway, London

English Literature

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...

6 lectures

0:54:00

Dr Steven McLean

Independent Scholar

Get instant access to over 6,800 lectures