Department of English

The English major with an emphasis on literature introduces students to the great literary traditions of Britain, North America, and the English-speaking world. The major in literature places courses organized by the historical period at the heart of the student's program, allowing students to read the great works that define the periods, and to explore the ways in which cultural contexts shape the literary imagination.

Students who select the emphasis on literature can expect to learn how sensitive readers engage texts through their own speaking and writing, following their insights into the rich pleasures of literary language and growing more sophisticated in constructing effective interpretive arguments. They will also be introduced to the ways in which major critical traditions frame our approaches to literature and define the issues that keep literature meaningful and relevant in our lives.