Explore literature through the ages.

We've hand-picked a variety of English literature courses for you to choose from. Whether you are interested in twenty-first-century literature and culture, the tales of Babylon, or historical topics such as race and gender, we have a broad selection of literature that’s sure to suit a wide variety of tastes and interests.  

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You might be a newcomer to the world of literature and the great works of authors past and present, or perhaps you consider yourself somewhat of an expert. Whichever group you fall into, our friendly classes are the perfect environment to develop your skills and knowledge. Building on a curiosity or passion is what we do best! 

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Whether you prefer online learning from the comfort of your own home, or you want to attend an in-person class in your local community, we have a huge amount of flexibility to suit how you learn best. This means that you can pick the environment that’s right for you, giving you that piece of mind that you can learn in a place that you feel comfortable with. 

The support you’ll receive 

Our dedicated tutors will guide you through the different genres and time periods in English literature, helping you to develop your critical reading and analysis skills - perfect if you're a beginner.   

Our learning experience is one of the things that sets us apart, with many of our learners going on to achieve incredible things. You’ll learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have.  

Start your journey today and learn all about the works of Agatha Christie, Shakespeare and many, many more.  

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Literature: Shakespeare and Philosophy

It has been said that Shakespeare wrote with the spirit of a poet and the acuteness of a philosopher and through this fascinating course you will examine the links between his works and philosophy This is a beginner’s course which enables new or refreshed learning of the Shakespeare’s timeless plots, interesting characters and key themes in his witty comedies and profound tragedies. While examining how Shakespeare depicts ancient yet modern ideas of power, ambition, revenge, love, good, evil, mercy and despair in drama, memorable imagery and poetic lines.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 25/09/2024 -
Wed 04/12/2024
Times:
10:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Castle Methodist Church (Colchester)
Maidenburgh Street
Colchester
CO1 1TT
Tutor:
David Sharp
Course code:
Q00018371
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Literature: Detective Fiction in Society and Culture

In these lectures Stephen Wilkinson will introduce students to the history of the detective genre and discuss its relationship to the development of capitalism, urbanisation and consumerist commodity culture. Students will be encouraged to read detective fiction as a prism through which societies, their anxieties and underlying psycho-political natures can be understood. Using the examples from the UK, US and Cuba students will gain an insight into the ways in which popular literature gives shape and form to our lives.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/09/2024 -
Thu 17/10/2024
Times:
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017701
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

Literature: Reading Boris Pastenak and Helen Dunmore - Doctor Zhivago and Zennor in Darkness

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we willmove on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 30/09/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00016882
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: Reading Boris Pasternak, J.L. Carr and Helen Dunmore

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we will move on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 30/09/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00017320
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Literature: Iconic Scenes from 19th Century Fiction

This is a chance to revisit some famous literary moments from Regency and Victorian novels, to remember, discuss and enjoy them together, to introduce some that are less familiar, and to inspire further reading.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 01/10/2024 -
Tue 26/11/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Women's Institute Hall (Nottingham)
1 Main Street
Lowdham
Nottingham
NG14 7AB
Tutor:
Judith Hedley
Course code:
Q00016273
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Literature: Reading Boris Pastenak and Helen Dunmore - Doctor Zhivago and Zennor in Darkness

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we will move on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 01/10/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00016883
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: Crime through Time

For the last century, crime fiction has been the most popular and lucrative of literary subgenres. But this commercial success belies a formal inventiveness and experiment, a constant drive to ‘make it new’, which has long been central to the genre. In this course we will read six crime novels (and three short stories) which chart the development of crime fiction. As well as considering each of these novels in isolation from week to week, we will also use the seven week course to ask ourselves: how has crime fiction changed through the years, and how has it remained the same? No previous knowledge of crime fiction is necessary – everybody is most welcome!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 01/10/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Blofield Court House (BLOFIELD)
28 Yarmouth Road
BLOFIELD
NR13 4JU
Tutor:
Joseph Williams
Course code:
Q00018194
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Literature: The Ghost Stories of M. R. James

Human beings have told each other stories about ghosts since the ancient times, but the ghost story as we know it was created by the writer and scholar M. R. James (1862-1936). At Christmas, James would read his stories aloud to friends and colleagues at the University of Cambridge. The BBC began adapting James’s stories in 1971 as part of their ’Ghost Story for Christmas’ series. In this course we will look at seven of James’s most famous and enjoyed stories, a number of which were adapted by the BBC. We will consider each story on its own, looking at James’s use of suspense and humour. How does James write a ghost story? Are they scary? And, most of all, what are we scared of? No previous knowledge of ghost stories is necessary – everybody is most welcome!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 01/10/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Joseph Williams
Course code:
Q00018856
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: English Poetry from Shakespeare to today

The Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley famously said that ‘Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.’ This course tracks the development of English poetry, from the sonnets of Shakespeare to the contemporary poetry of Jack Underwood, Emily Berry, and Rachael Allen. As well as considering each of the poets in isolation from week to week, we will also use the seven week course to ask ourselves: how has poetry developed through the years, and how has it remained the same? As well as considering each of the poets and poems in isolation from week to week, we will also take the opportunity to compare what aspects No previous knowledge of poetry is necessary – everybody is most welcome!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 01/10/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
1:15pm - 3:15pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Norwich Millennium Library (Norwich)
Millennium Library
The Forum, Millennium Plain
Norwich
NR2 1AW
Tutor:
Joseph Williams
Course code:
Q00018868
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £67.20

Literature: The Matter of Britain: Malory and the Arthurian Legend

In this taster course, learners will begin by considering the many and varied sources of the Arthurian legend, in literature and other media, before focusing on the most famous and complete literary work in English on the Matter of Britain, Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. We will study examples from this extensive work, and explore Malory’s prose style and his use of late Middle English. No prior knowledge of Middle English is required, and the course is suitable for beginners and improvers.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 02/10/2024 -
Wed 16/10/2024
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Roberta Dewa
Course code:
Q00016271
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20