About the Department of English and Comparative Literature
We are distinctive in the intellectual range of our teaching and research. Our main field of critical inquiry extends from Old English literature to twenty-first century literatures in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. In our undergraduate and postgraduate linguistics courses we also study different varieties of English, the relationship between language, culture and society, media discourses and the linguistic construction of identity (see also our MA in Applied Linguistics: Sociocultural Approaches). Our earliest focus is on Classical literature and our latest on Creative Writing. In this new writing, our conspicuous strength springs from those staff and students who contribute directly to some of the literatures studied. We read the literatures of yesterday and today, and write literature for tomorrow.
Comparative study of literatures, in a recently globalized world, is a vibrant aspect of our profile. Postcolonial literary studies features strongly alongside our concern with European and American literatures. These methods allow for innovative crossings of cultural boundaries, geographically and historically. Literatures other than those in English are taught in translation, though there is scope to engage with texts in the original languages.
Research and creative writing published by our 35 academic staff put the Department at the cutting edge of new thinking. In the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), 65% of this published work was judged as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
Our programmes combine a core of modern specialisms with coverage of literature down the centuries. We can thus offer you a wide range of study areas. You can do a more traditional English degree with us, or a more comparative or creative programme. Whichever way, you can make choices among our multi-disciplinary resources to advance your developing interests. There are opportunities to learn about film, theatre, and visual arts, in addition to studying literature and language.
We invite enquiries and applications from individuals who are likely to benefit from our programmes and contribute to our dynamic intellectual community.