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! 

Enrol on a literature class near you  

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: The Fables of Robert Louis Stevenson

The course presents all twenty-two “fables” of Robert Louis Stevenson, some as short as a few lines, others running to several pages, all of them challenging the reader with unexpected approaches to human life. We will read all the fables in six weeks, coming together on Zoom to share responses and questions, examine the literary merits and explore the ways the fables might enhance our understanding of ourselves and others we come into contact with day by day. There are podcasts for each fable to supplement our discussions, as well as space on the Canvas site to continue the Zoom discussions.
Dates:
Wed 16/04/2025 -
Wed 21/05/2025
Times:
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Robert-Louis Abrahamson
Course code:
Q00019254
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: Exploring Form in Poetry

Over the 10-week period, you’ll pay close attention to 10 different poetic forms such as , including the nocturne, haibun, prose poem, villanelle, golden shovel, pantoum, epistle, elegy, acrostic, couplet, ekphrastic, through close readings of selected verses, you’ll explore formal context and development in relation to your own work. You’ll also participate in lively discussions regarding formal aspects and question the use of techniques and experimentation. Prompts will be provided to support you with drafting your formal piece and you’ll be encouraged to continue your work at home in between sessions. Openness is encouraged but you won’t be asked to share more than you are comfortable with. Connect to and support a writing community.
Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 01/07/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ione Harris
Course code:
Q00016874
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

Literature: Portraits of Society, 1954 – 1961 The Angry Decade?

Explore the literature of the "Angry Decade" with our Literature: Portraits of Society, 1954 – 1961 The Angry Decade? course. Analyze works from this tumultuous period in British literature, reflecting on social change and cultural upheaval. Ideal for literature enthusiasts and students of modern British history.
Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 24/06/2025
Times:
3:30pm - 5:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Patrick O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00016888
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: Portraits of Society, 1954 – 1961 The Angry Decade?

Explore the literature of the "Angry Decade" with our Literature: Portraits of Society, 1954 – 1961 The Angry Decade? course. Analyze works from this tumultuous period in British literature, reflecting on social change and cultural upheaval. Ideal for literature enthusiasts and students of modern British history.
Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 25/06/2025
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Patrick O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00016889
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Literature: Madness in Nineteenth Century British Literature

This course will explore the subject of madness in nineteenth century British fiction. We will examine extracts from a range of texts, and all extracts will be provided on Canvas for you to read. Authors that we will discover are the Brontes, Dickens, Henry James and Oscar Wilde. These are our principal figures but we shall refer to a number of other writers to provide context. Our key texts will be: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, The Signalman (by Dickens), The Turn of the Screw and The Picture of Dorian Gray. The course will analyse each extract closely and contextualise it in terms of Victorian thought and history. This will lead to provoking discussions and ample opportunities for discussion.
Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 21/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021484
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Literature: Voices of the English Civil Wars.

This course will explore the period of the English Civil Wars, though the period might be better described as the British Civil Wars. It will examine the development of the state of war, the war itself and the war’s political developments and fall out. It will draw on the voices of the period that we find in pamphlets, poetry, prose and letters, and will as far as possible develop arguments based solely on contemporary documentation. Thus we shall hear the authentic voices of that era and discover those voices' concerns, fears and hopes. The course will conclude with an examination of the newly forged Protectorate under Cromwell.
Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021489
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Literature: Stanzas for Summer

This ten-week course will explore a variety of classic and contemporary British, Irish and American poetry themed around summer, the sun and travel. Over the course of these sessions we will consider how the subject matter, style and cultural perspective of poets from a range of backgrounds contributes to our understanding of their oeuvres and these themes. We will examine the background of each poet we read along with reference to quality critical appraisals of each one. The sessions will combine close-reading and audio-visual materials with lively, inclusive and hopefully invigorating discussion. Whether you are just coming into poetry or have been reading and/or writing it for some time you will be welcome along to these sessions.
Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 25/06/2025
Times:
2:45pm - 4:45pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Mark Howarth
Course code:
Q00021581
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £66.60

Literature: Exploring Shakespeare’s Sonnets

In this course we will discuss and analyse Shakespeare’s Sonnet Sequence. We will discuss the evolution of the Sonnet, the Elizabethan sonnet boom, and Shakespeare’s sonnet sonnet, placing them in the context of the Elizabeth Age, its etiquette, manners, philosophy and attitudes to love. We will discover how important a knowledge of Shakespeare’s sexuality is, and how this impacts on the enduring mysteries relating to the addressee of the sonnets and the figures within the sonnets. Come along and engage in practical criticism of the works and exchange views in what will be a lively to and fro of ideas
Dates:
Thu 24/04/2025 -
Thu 29/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021481
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: British Women’s Short Stories 1980 to the Present

This five week course will explore British Women’s Short stories from the twentieth century. The five stories are: Mysterious Kor - Elizabeth Bowen. The House of the Famous Poet - Muriel Spark. Flesh and the Mirror - Angela Carter. The Lotus - Jean Rhys. My Wife is a White Russian - Rose Tremain. All texts are found in the recommended course text: The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories, edited by Malcolm Bradbury. These stories will introduce you to the richness of women’s authors throughout the last century and will give rise to lively discussions and analysis.
Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 02/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021475
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: The World of Ivor Gurney

This course will introduce one of the most fascinating of English poets from the period of the Great War. This is Ivor Gurney, poet and musician and friend of Edward Thomas. We will examine a range of his poetry, spanning his earliest work to those late poems that he wrote while committed to an asylum in the post-war years. We will discover his life, his friendships and his world, placing his poetry, music and madness in the context of his life and his world. The course will analyse his work in detail over five weeks and will provide ample scope for lively discussion.
Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 02/06/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021487
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40