English Literature, BA (Hons)

Single Honours in English Studies offers a comprehensive syllabus, which combines traditional areas of literary study with new and developing areas of the discipline. It aims to develop your conceptual abilities and analytical skills by exposing you to a variety of literary critical approaches, to promote and develop clarity and persuasiveness in argument and expression, and to enable you to develop, to a high degree of competence, a range of skills which are subject-specific and transferable. A Degree in English Studies will equip you for a wide variety of professions and employment, as well as for advanced postgraduate study of English and related disciplines.Year 1There are three compulsory modules in Year 1 – Introduction to Drama, Introduction to the Novel, and Introduction to Poetry – each of which introduces you to representative works in the major literary genres. There are also three optional modules, from which you may select one, two or all three. These offer the possibility to study important influences on English literature (Classical and Biblical Backgrounds to English Literature) and early literature (Romance and the Literature of Chivalry; Epic and Literature of Legend).This year will focus on advancing skills of critical analysis and argument you have already acquired at A level, critical skills in the close reading and analysis of texts, such as the awareness of formal and aesthetic dimensions of literature and of the affective power of language, and on the introduction of more advanced concepts and theories relating to literature.Compulsory modules:Introduction to DramaIntroduction to the NovelIntroduction to Poetry.Examples of optional modules:Up to three of the following (or up to two open modules offered by other departments):Romance and the Literature of ChivalryEpic and Literature of LegendAncient WorldsStudy AbroadYou may apply to study abroad for an additional year between Levels 2 and 3 (transferring from BA Hons in English Literature to BA Hons English Literature with a Year Abroad). Supported by the International Office and the Department’s International Co-ordinator, you can put yourself forward for the following study abroad options: The Overseas Exchange programme (university-wide links with institutions in North America, the Far East, Australasia, and so on). A list of the University’s current partners is available here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/international/studyabroad/exchange/outgoing/partnerunis/ The Erasmus programme (Departmental link with universities in EU countries). For more information on this course, please see our website.