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English Literature

Be as Informed as a Literature Graduate

Eve Williams MMus

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'If you look by the measure how personalized a course feels to a learner, no other course can match it. It does not give feel of an online course, it feels that you are being personally tutored by Eve. The course is a pretty detailed one and leaves you with intense desire to read all she has suggested in the videos.'

Suhrid Bhatnagar

'It was enjoyable, interesting and definitely widened my knowledge of the world of literature. Loved it.'

Rached

Do you want to discover the highlights of English literature and become well informed about some of the world's best known writers? Do you want to learn about the development of literature, language and ideas? Maybe you need to pass a citizenship test or college entrance exam. This course will give you a thorough grounding in English Literature.

If you have always wanted to be a literature buff but didn't know where to start, this course is for you. Maybe you are already knowledgeable about English Literature but would like to learn a little bit more about its history and the development of language and ideas. Maybe you are thinking of taking a college course in English Literature and want a taster to see if it is for you. You may need a knowledge of English language and literature to pass a citizenship test or gain access to a higher education institution. If so, this course is in depth enough to meet your needs.

This is an  in depth course in English Literature . Presented the way a literature degree at any respected university would be structured, it looks at every major era of English Literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the modern day, covering the major authors in each era. We also look at the development of the English Language, English history and the development of ideas from medieval heroicism to postmodernism. This is not just a collection of my personal favourite writers: it's very much based on the English literary cannon. We also look at American, Australian, Canadian and Irish literature in English. Along the way we'll cover works by Chaucer, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Austen, Tennyson, the Brontes, Dickens, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling,  William Faulkner, F.Scott Fitzgerald, Beckett, Yeats, Keats, Shelley, Byron, Wordsworth, Haddon... There's something here for everyone.

The reading list is pretty extensive but you can dip in and out of it and no prior knowledge of the texts is required.

With a degree in English Literature and a Master's in Old English from the respected Queen's University of Belfast as well as being a writer myself, I will be your guide on a literary odyssey which spans 13 centuries and more than 47 writers.

Join today to

  • Discover timeless stories and poetry you will love

  • Grow confidence in your knowledge of literature

  • Learn about the development of the English language

  • Understand cultural and ideological shifts found in English Literature

Udemy has a 30 day money back guarantee so you can enroll without risk. I'm looking forward to joining you on the course.

Enroll now

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • You will learn about the development of genres, language and ideas in english literature
  • You will learn about a variety of authors, their lives and how they influenced english literature
  • You will learn about literary forms
  • The course looks primarily at english literature but also covers american, irish, canadian and australian literature in english
  • After the course, you will be able to discuss literature with the literati.
  • This course will help you if you are thinking of taking or have already started an english literature degree
  • You will be able to carry out individual textual analysis plus understand texts within their literary and historical background
  • You will understand different approaches to literary criticism.
  • Learn about the use of literary devices.
  • You will discover how the english language progressed from anglo-saxon to middle english to early modern english to modern english.
  • You will be invited to the course zoom book club where you can discuss your reading with other students if you choose to do so.
  • The course includes insights into the history of the united kingdom, ireland and usa.
  • You will discover books that you will love.
  • Learn in a course which is in depth, taught by a native english speaker based in the uk
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Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction: How to Use this Course
Sourcing Texts for Free: Project Gutenberg
Resources to Help You on This Course
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Reading English Literature: Textual Analysis
Literary Devices
Literary Criticism
Old English (Anglo-Saxon)
Language and History of the Earliest English Texts
The Dream of the Rood and the Ruthwell Cross
Beowulf
Wulf and Eadwacer
Making an Anglo-Saxon Text
Middle English Texts
Language and Literature in the Later Medieval Period
Chaucer
Malory's Morte d'Arthur
Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
Julian of Norwich: The First Published Female Writer in English
Renaissance Literature: Poets and Playwrights
History and Language in Renaissance England
William Shakespeare
Christopher Marlowe
The Faerie Queene
The English Civil War and The Great Epic Poem in English
John Milton and Paradise Lost
The Age of Richardson, Austen and the Novel
Reason and Sensibility: The Literary Culture of the Regency and 18th Century
Samuel Richardson
Jane Austen
Matthew Gregory Lewis
The Romantics
Romantic Doesn't Mean Mills and Boon!
William Wordsworth
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Percy Bysshe Shelley
George Gordon, Lord Byron
John Keats
Victorian Literature
Literature and Social Change
Charles Dickens
The Brontë Sisters
George Eliot
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Early Twentieth Century English Literature: The First World War
The Century of War
The War Poets: Siegfried Sasson, Wilfred Owen and Robert Graves
Rudyard Kipling
Modernism in England and the Bloomsbury Set
Modernism in England: Bloomsbury Values
Virginia Woolf
E.M. Forster
Fathers of Fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and the Inklings
The Inklings
Tolkien or Lewis?
A Short Note About George MacDonald
J.R.R. Tolkien
C.S. Lewis
Late Twentieth and Early 21st Century English Literature
The World Changes...
.J.K. Rowling
Mark Haddon
Ian McEwan
American Literature
American Literature: Introduction
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Mark Twain
Louisa May Alcott
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Harper Lee
William Faulkner
Arthur Miller
Other Noteworthy American Writers
Irish Literature in English
Irish Literature: Identity and Poetry
William Butler Yeats
George Bernard Shaw
Samuel Beckett
James Joyce
Seamus Heaney
Other Noteworthy Irish Writers
Canadian Literature
L.M. Montgomery
Margaret Atwood
Australian Literature
Henry Savery
Jeannie Gunn
Other Noteworthy English Language Writers
Conclusion
Further Reading
Bonus: Reading List Challenge

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Ideal for those with an interest in English Literature who wish to study at university level or need to gain knowledge for a citizenship test or other exam
Ideal for those who want to learn more about the development of the English language, literature, and history
Great for students looking to pass citizenship or college entrance exams that require knowledge of English language and literature
Structured like an English literature degree from a respected university
Led by an expert with a degree in English Literature and a Master's in Old English from Queen's University of Belfast
Covers everything from the Anglo-Saxon period to modern literature, including American, Australian, Canadian, and Irish literature in English

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Save English Literature: Be as Informed as a Literature Graduate to your list so you can find it easily later:
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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 English Literature: Be as Informed as a Literature Graduate with these activities:
Review basic grammar and punctuation
Strengthen your language skills by reinforcing basic grammar and punctuation concepts.
Browse courses on Grammar
Show steps
  • Take an online grammar and punctuation test or quiz
  • Review grammar and punctuation rules
  • Complete practice exercises or worksheets
Explore online literary resources
Expand your knowledge of English literature beyond the classroom by exploring online resources.
Browse courses on English Literature
Show steps
  • Visit websites like the British Library or the Poetry Foundation
  • Explore online databases and archives
  • Subscribe to literary podcasts or YouTube channels
Develop a timeline of English literature
Enhance your understanding of the chronological development of English literature and its major literary periods.
Browse courses on English Literature
Show steps
  • Research the key eras and authors of English literature
  • Create a visual timeline using a tool like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel
  • Include significant literary works, historical events, and cultural influences
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Practice literary analysis
Develop your skills in analyzing and interpreting literary texts.
Browse courses on Literary Analysis
Show steps
  • Find practice exercises or quizzes online
  • Analyze literary devices, themes, and characters
  • Write short responses or essays based on the exercises
Create a multimedia presentation on a literary topic
Entice and inform your audience by creating a visually engaging and informative multimedia presentation.
Browse courses on English Literature
Show steps
  • Choose a topic and gather your research
  • Develop a script or storyboard
  • Use a tool like PowerPoint or Prezi to create your presentation
  • Add images, videos, and other multimedia elements
Read 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer
Gain insights into medieval society, literature, and language by reading this classic work of English literature.
View The Canterbury Tales on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the General Prologue
  • Read at least two tales from each of the four main categories (Knight, Miller, Reeve, Cook)
  • Identify the main characters, themes, and literary devices used
  • Write a short summary of each tale you read
Write a short story in the style of a specific literary era
Apply your knowledge of literary styles and techniques by creating your own original work.
Browse courses on Creative Writing
Show steps
  • Choose a literary era and research its characteristics
  • Develop a plot and characters that align with the era's conventions
  • Write a first draft
  • Revise and edit your work for style, grammar, and mechanics
Read 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë
Immerse yourself in one of the greatest novels of the Victorian era, exploring themes of love, revenge, and the supernatural.
View Wuthering Heights on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the novel carefully
  • Analyze the characters, plot, and themes
  • Consider the novel's cultural and historical context
  • Write a review or reflection on the novel

Career center

Learners who complete English Literature: Be as Informed as a Literature Graduate will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Course image
Effort
14 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Eve Williams MMus
Language
English
Good to know
Ideal for those with an interest in English Literature who wish to study at university level or need to gain knowledge for a citizenship test or other exam
Ideal for those who want to learn more about the development of the English language, literature, and history
Great for students looking to pass citizenship or college entrance exams that require knowledge of English language and literature
Structured like an English literature degree from a respected university
Led by an expert with a degree in English Literature and a Master's in Old English from Queen's University of Belfast
Covers everything from the Anglo-Saxon period to modern literature, including American, Australian, Canadian, and Irish literature in English
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