Literature: 'Keeping It Brief': a study of shorter forms in literature

Literature can be experimental and playful, searching and profound. In this course, we will be discussing literature which is short in length! As a basis for this course, we will be drawing primarily from the fascinating collection The Penguin Book of the British Short Story from Daniel Defoe to John Buchan. Using this text as our springboard, we will be discussing a range of short stories written over time, including authors such as Daniel Defoe and Viola Meynell. We will also be reading and discussing together shorter forms of poetry from haiku to the sonnet, and examples of shorter drama. Keeping it brief presents authors with particular decisions to make. What are they to include and what are they to miss out? How do they compress their writing whilst also expressing their key ideas or emotions convincingly and deeply? How much is writing in shorter forms a type of game or puzzle, and does this affect the quality of the text positively or negatively? How much work do writers make the reader do? Sharing our ideas together promises many discoveries and delights.