Course descriptionBA Single Honours / BA Combined Honours / BA (QTS)
Why study English Literature at Hope?
You will examine a wide range of texts written in English from the time of Shakespeare to the present day. Our tutors have impressive national and, in some cases, international research profiles. Although the primary focus is on the literature of the British Isles, American literature is also covered. Some of the texts you will be studying have excited the interest of generations of readers, stimulating admiration, criticism, and sometimes indignation. The programme will enable you to analyse the way texts are constructed. We will help you to communicate your ideas more effectively, both orally and in writing. We hope that in the process, you will develop a lifelong enthusiasm for literature as you gain a fuller appreciation of the ways in which different critical approaches to literature enrich and deepen our understanding.
What will I study? Level 1
Our core course, Exploring Genres, will provide you with an introduction to the major genres of literature – narrative, poetry and drama. You will also be introduced to critical and self-reflexive skills to help you to become an independent learner. Single Honours students choose a second subsidiary module from a complementary subject area: we particularly recommend Introducing English Language Studies (English Language).
Level 2
You will take the core module Nineteenth Century Literature. For QTS students this will be the only English Literature course. Other students choose additional optional course(s). These are some examples, although each year we offer a slightly different package:
Literature in the Age of Shakespeare
Eighteenth Century Literature
American Classics
Major Authors
Level 3
You will take a core module on Modernism. QTS students will study an extended version of this course. The number of courses you take depends on whether you are a Single or Combined Honours student. These are some examples of the options available. These vary from year to year:
Modern Cultures
Literature for Intending Teachers
Philosophy, Film, Identity
Clockwork Fictions: Anthony Burgess and His Contemporaries*
Negotiated Learning Contract: Dissertation.
(Please note that not all courses will be available every year.)
How will I study?
By taking advantage of a range of teaching methods and learning support you can work with a style that suits you. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials. You will have access to a wide variety of resources including The Sheppard-Worlock Library, our Virtual Learning Environment and other online resources such as e-journals and books, in order to develop the skills required to complete your studies successfully.
How will I be assessed?
We use a variety of methods to assess your learning, reflecting the fact that we all learn in different ways. For English Literature these may include formal written examinations, essays, reports, short papers, class tests, project work, presentations and a dissertation.
What do our graduates do?
Well over 65% of all graduate jobs are open to English Literature graduates. With much sought-after analytical and communication skills, many of our graduates go on to pursue careers in journalism, the media, editing and publishing. A significant number also enter the teaching profession via the postgraduate teaching certificate (PGCE) as English Literature is a National Curriculum subject.