English Literature / Education

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

This degree will allow you to explore literature of all genres and from all periods within the context of the broadest possible interpretation of literature in English. You will become skilled in the interpretation and analysis of literary texts and you will engage with current critical debates.

 In your first year you may discover:

• new techniques for analysing literary texts
• some key figures from literary history (from Shakespeare to the Brontës)
• lesser known texts, and writers who are new-to-you
• a variety of “ways of reading” and some theoretical approaches to textual analysis
• poetry, prose, drama, American Literature, adaptations, Classical literature, contemporary writing, medieval texts and much more
• the importance of educational policies
• childhood in society
• global citizenship.

In your second year you may explore:

• the theoretical approaches to, and the practice of, literary criticism
• a range of selected core texts from the medieval period through to the twenty-first century
• a number of specialist topics chosen by you (these might focus on a specific genre (such as crime fiction), historical period (such as the Victorian era), or theme (such as “place”)
• seven week placement with an organisation relating to education, aid or development
• and critically assess the theories of community and education
• how to analyse the effects of migration and mobility on education
• the development of literacy globally.

In the third year you may master:

• literary theory and the application of theoretical perspectives to literary analysis;
• extended writing and independent research in your final year dissertation project (on a topic chosen and defined by you);
• your own specialisms drawn from a diverse range of option modules taught by researchers in those fields. Our option modules include topics such as Elizabethan drama, the ghost story, the early English novel, queer fiction, children’s literature, Romanticism, and much more;
• global perspectives on rights and health in the developing world;
• every factor affecting education and development;
• community issues;
• the role of individuals and government;
• the application of rights and legislation;
• the impact of poverty.

How will I be taught?

Our degree is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and one-to-one tutorials. We also encourage self-directed learning designed to stimulate your academic interest in English Literature and nurture your personal and intellectual development.

You will be assessed through essays, exams and oral presentation. You will also be required to complete additional, non-assessed, assignments and to work with others on particular tasks.

Further information

As you study, you will develop a range of skills which will benefit you in further study or any graduate workplace. You will learn to: employ multiple critical techniques when approaching texts; develop a reflective practice in reading and writing; articulate a detailed critical analysis of your subject; and respond to any task with creativity, flair and style.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or pastoral issues. Your personal tutor will also be responsible for delivering tutorials that will help you in the development of key skills. You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.