COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offers an extensive exploration of English literary tradition, spanning from the early Medieval period to contemporary works. It is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of English literature, its key periods, major genres, and influential authors. Through detailed study and critical analysis, students will engage with a variety of texts that reflect the cultural, social, and historical contexts of their times.
This course will enhance students’ analytical, interpretative, and critical thinking skills, preparing them for advanced literary studies and fostering a deeper appreciation for the richness of English literature.
Key Topics
- Historical Development of English Literature: The course traces the historical progression of English literature from its origins in the Medieval period through the Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romantic, Victorian, and Modernist periods, up to the present day.
- Key Literary Periods: Each major literary period is examined in depth, including the Medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, Postmodernist, and Contemporary periods.
- Major Genres in English Literature: The course covers the primary genres of English literature, including poetry, prose, drama, and essays, exploring their unique elements and notable works.
- Influence of Social and Cultural Contexts: The course emphasizes the importance of social, cultural, and historical contexts in shaping literary works and their themes.
- Contemporary and Postcolonial Literature: The course includes a focus on contemporary and postcolonial literature, highlighting the diverse voices and perspectives that have emerged in response to historical and cultural changes.
- Environmental and Digital Literature: The course explores the emerging fields of environmental and digital literature, examining how contemporary writers address ecological concerns and leverage digital technologies in their works.
Core Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the Historical Development of English Literature: Trace the evolution of English literature through major historical periods, identifying key influences and changes in themes and styles.
- Understand Key Literary Periods: Examine each literary period’s unique characteristics, recognizing influential authors, works, and cultural impacts.
- Identify Major Genres in English Literature: Differentiate between primary genres such as poetry, prose, drama, and essays, understanding their unique elements and literary contributions.
- Assess the Influence of Social and Cultural Contexts: Evaluate how social, cultural, and historical contexts shape literary works and their thematic concerns.
- Explore Contemporary and Postcolonial Literature: Investigate diverse voices and perspectives in contemporary and postcolonial literature, understanding their responses to historical and cultural developments.
- Examine Environmental and Digital Literature: Analyze emerging themes in environmental and digital literature, exploring how authors address ecological concerns and use digital platforms creatively.
REFERENCE MATERIALS for Full-CLC Students
“A full CLC award signifies that the student has attained the knowledge, through either prior education or experience, equivalent to or greater than what would be learned in a traditional college course. Physical attendance is not required; however, successful completion of a final exam for each course is mandatory.”
Reference Materials
- (2017) Why should you read Charles Dickens? TED-ED – Iseult Gillespie. Link
- (2016) George Orwell. The School of Life. Link
- (2016) An introduction to the discipline of literature. Macat. Link
- (2016) Does Grammar Matter? Andreea S. Calude. TED-ED. Link
- (2015) Jane Austen. The School of Life. Link
- (2013) Mining Literature for deeper meanings. Amy E. Harter. Link
- (2008) A Professor tells us why we should care about literature. Link
Please note: USILACS is not responsible for the content of these links and cannot guarantee their accessibility. Some links may become inactive over time. If a link is no longer active, it is recommended to copy and paste the title into Google or YouTube to locate alternative sources. For assistance or to report an inactive link, please contact the IT team at it@usilacs.org, so it can be replaced with an updated source.
Occasionally, these links may prompt a download of reference material in PDF format. While every effort is made to provide safe sources, users are encouraged to verify the safety of any downloads for their devices.
If additional study material is needed, it is advisable to search the topics and titles on Google and YouTube.
Additional Resource Materials:
USILACS is committed to the success of its students. For those needing a knowledge refresher or wishing to expand their understanding of the subject, it is recommended that they review some of the online education resources below:
FREE Online College Courses:
- Khan Academy Link
- edX Link
- Coursera Link
- Open Culture Link
- MIT Link
- Carnegie Mellon Link
- Stanford Online Link
Tips for Success
Some reference materials are extensive books with hundreds of pages. To quickly find answers within these books, follow these steps:
- Use the Table of Contents: Start by reviewing the table of contents to identify relevant chapters or sections that pertain to your topic of interest.
- Utilize the Index: The index at the back of the book can be an invaluable tool. Look up specific keywords or topics to find the exact pages where they are discussed.
- Perform a Keyword Search: If the book is in a digital format (PDF, eBook, etc.), use the search function (often accessed with Ctrl+F or Command+F) to find specific terms or phrases within the text.
- Read Summaries and Abstracts: Focus on chapter summaries or abstracts, which often provide concise overviews of the main points covered.
- Skim Strategically: Skim through headings, subheadings, and highlighted or bolded terms to quickly locate sections that are likely to contain the information you need.
- Consult Study Guides or Companion Materials: If available, use any study guides, companion materials, or outlines that accompany the book to direct you to key information.
By employing these strategies, you can efficiently navigate extensive reference materials to find the answers you need.