World Literature

Do you really love to read? Do you want to be very widely read and understand key texts, literary movements and historical contexts in World Literature? Then this is the course for you.

This World Literature course is unique on Udemy. Coming from a historicist perspective, it examines texts from across the world and from ancient times to the present day in their historical, political, philosophical and cultural contexts. After the course you will have a thorough knowledge of world literature and be able to discuss literature with the literati.

I am a lecturer at the C.S. Lewis Literary Festival in Belfast. I hold a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from the Queen's University of Belfast (a Russell International Excellence Group University) and have taught at the Institute of Lifelong Learning at Queen's University, as well as being a writer and professional lyricist. I'm looking forward to being your guide through World Literature.

We will learn about:

Greek and Roman mythology, history and epic poetry which still influences literature and popular culture today.
The influence of the Bible on texts ranging from Dryden's Absalom and Achiptophel to Steinbeck's East of Eden to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
The growth of the Arthurian myths
Fairy tales (they weren't always for children)
Key authors from different time periods in Europe, North and Latin America, Australia, Africa, the Far East and Asia.

Writers include Homer, Virgil, Malory, Dryden, Steinbeck, Cervantes, Dante, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, L.M. Montgomery, Margaret Atwood, Jeannie Gunn, Machado de Assis, Juana Inés de la Cruz, José Martí, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Kofi Anoonor, Confucius, Kim Young-ha, Roma Tearne, Monica Ali, Rabindranath Tagore and many more.

This course is an epic journey with alot to discover on the way. You can enrol today risk free due to Udemy's 30 day money back guarantee. I'm looking forward to meeting you on the course.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Discover key texts in world literature
Understand key literary movements
Understand literary philosophies
Appreciate the historical and cultural events which shaped world literature
Discover exciting authors and texts from the ancient world to the present day
Gain an understanding of literature in depth enough to pass citizenship tests and university entrance exams
Discuss literature with the literati

Improve your skills in textual analysis and contextualising written works
Indulge in the sheer joy of reading
This course will help you if you are undertaking or plan to undertake further or higher education studies in literature
Monthly zoom book club
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Discover key texts in world literature
Understand key literary movements
Understand literary philosophies
Appreciate the historical and cultural events which shaped world literature
Discover exciting authors and texts from the ancient world to the present day
Gain an understanding of literature in depth enough to pass citizenship tests and university entrance exams
Discuss literature with the literati
Improve your skills in textual analysis and contextualising written works
Indulge in the sheer joy of reading
This course will help you if you are undertaking or plan to undertake further or higher education studies in literature
Monthly zoom book club
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

Introduction: What This Course Is and Is Not

Sourcing Texts for Free: Project Gutenberg

Course Reading List and Bibliography/Webliography

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores World Literature in a historicist perspective from different parts of the world and different time frames

Examines the influence of mythology, religion, and cultural events on literature

Taught by Eve Williams, a lecturer at the C.S. Lewis Literary Festival in Belfast with a Master of Arts degree in English Literature

Suitable for those interested in passing citizenship tests and university entrance exams

Covers a wide range of authors and texts, providing a comprehensive overview of World Literature

Includes a Monthly Zoom Book Club for interaction and discussion

Reviews summary

A comprehensive guide to world literature

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive and comprehensive journey through global literary traditions. Students praise the instructor's passion and expertise, noting how the lectures are engaging and make complex topics accessible. Many appreciate the strong emphasis on historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts, which helps connect diverse literary works. The course is seen as excellent for broadening horizons and discovering new authors. While the breadth of coverage is a significant strength, some advise that it serves more as a high-level survey rather than providing in-depth textual analysis required for advanced academic study. The addition of a monthly Zoom Book Club is highlighted as a positive community feature.

Offers a valuable monthly Zoom Book Club.

"The monthly Zoom Book Club is a fantastic bonus, making it feel like a real community."

"The monthly book club is a nice touch, although I haven't had a chance to join yet."

Effectively links literature with historical and cultural events.

"I particularly appreciated the historical context provided for each literary movement and author."

"The way the course links literature to philosophy, history, and even religion (especially the Bible's influence) is masterful."

"The historical context provided is invaluable for understanding the cultural significance of the works."

"I particularly liked how the course connected literature to broader historical and philosophical trends."

Features a passionate and knowledgeable lecturer.

"The instructor's passion for literature shines through every lecture."

"The instructor is knowledgeable and the structure is logical..."

"The instructor's expertise is evident, and I particularly enjoyed the modules on ancient Greek and Roman literature..."

"The instructor is incredibly engaging and makes learning about different literary periods and their influences enjoyable."

Offers a wide-ranging historical literary overview.

"This course covers a LOT of ground, maybe too much."

"A very broad overview of world literature."

"Excellent course for gaining a panoramic view of world literature."

"The sheer scope of this course is incredible, yet it manages to remain coherent and engaging..."

Prioritizes broad exposure over in-depth textual analysis.

"Sometimes, due to the sheer volume of content, certain authors or works are only briefly touched upon. I often found myself wanting more in-depth analysis."

"I was hoping for more detailed textual analysis, but it's more of a high-level survey."

"While it covers many names, it barely scratches the surface. It's more of a rapid-fire introduction..."

"It delivers on the 'wide reading' promise, but for those seeking critical literary theory or detailed textual engagement, it falls short."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in World Literature: Your Guide to Becoming Very Well Read with these activities:

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

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Watch tutorials on how to write a literary analysis essay to improve your writing skills.

Browse courses on Essay Writing

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Search for tutorials on how to write a literary analysis essay.
Watch a few tutorials to get an overview of the process.
Take notes on the key points from the tutorials.

Literary Term Drills

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Complete drills to reinforce your understanding of literary terms and concepts.

Browse courses on Quizzes

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Review the literary terms covered in the course.
Find online quizzes or flashcards that cover literary terms.
Take the quizzes or use the flashcards to test your understanding of the terms.

Create a Character Analysis Essay

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Write an essay analyzing a character from a work of world literature to demonstrate your understanding of character development and literary techniques.

Browse courses on Character Analysis

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Choose a character from a work of world literature that you have read.
Write a thesis statement that expresses your main argument about the character.
Write a body paragraph that discusses the character's motivations.
Write a body paragraph that discusses the character's development throughout the work.
Write a body paragraph that discusses the character's significance to the work as a whole.
Write a conclusion that summarizes your main argument and discusses the character's lasting impact.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Discussion Group on Literary Movements

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Join a discussion group with peers to discuss and analyze different literary movements.

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Find a discussion group that focuses on literary movements.
Join the discussion group and introduce yourself.
Participate in the discussions by sharing your thoughts and ideas.

Hamlet and Greek Tragedy

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Read Hamlet and Greek Tragedy to understand connections between Shakespeare's work and Greek drama.

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Obtain a copy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
Obtain a copy of Hamlet and Greek Tragedy by Thomas Gould.
Read Hamlet completely.
Read Hamlet and Greek Tragedy and take notes on any connections between Hamlet and Greek tragedies.

World Literature Author Workshop

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Attend a workshop led by an author to gain insights into the writing process and the world of literature.

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Research upcoming author workshops in your area.
Register for a workshop that interests you.
Attend the workshop and take notes on the author's insights.

Comparative Literature Research Project

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Conduct a research project to compare and contrast two works of literature from different cultures or time periods.

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Choose two works of literature from different cultures or time periods.
Read the two works carefully and take notes on their similarities and differences.
Write a research paper that compares and contrasts the two works, discussing their themes, characters, settings, and styles.

Career center

Learners who complete World Literature: Your Guide to Becoming Very Well Read will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: