Whether it’s battling mythical creatures, delving into the complex theories of known psychologists, or experiencing pivotal moments in history through the eyes of unforgettable characters – every class in this course absorbs you into a different world. The rich curriculum, offering varied perspectives and texts, not only gives students an opportunity to grow and explore their interests in the field but also encourages them to enhance their creativity through the end of year assessments.
While we do study renowned literary figures including Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton, or Austen, the course also focuses on the less known yet equally talented figures such as Geroge Herbet’s devotional poetry, Claude McKay’s narrative of the Harlem Renaissance, and Jhumpa Lahiri's diasporic identity out of the many. By balancing the appreciation of new authors with old ones, the university urges students to think beyond canonical boundaries and gain a holistic literary experience that broadens their interpretation of literary traditions across time. This further enables students to consider the current impact of historical, cultural, and personal contexts in literature – going beyond a mundane reading and writing of the text.
Though the long list of texts can look quite intimidating it doesn’t take too long to become friends with them. Freshers starting their journey at Kings will be introduced to a variety of core primary readings and secondary sources, revolving around poetry, American literature, literary theory, and the contemporary world during their first year. By setting this foundation, the university teaches students to apply theoretical and historical approaches to literary study, developing essential skills including writing, reading, and researching. These skills act as a catalyst in shaping their specialism, and gives them the opportunity to create their own syllabus by offering more than 50 optional modules in the next two years. These modules, ranging from medieval performance to contemporary poetry, global fiction, and creative writing, are not only enjoyable but prove the importance of literature throughout time.
Studying literary theories in my first year fuelled my fascination towards the intersection of psychology and literature, thus, guiding me to modules like ‘Literature And Psychoanalysis’ and ‘The Colonial Novel of British India’, both of which link psychological theories to literary texts or the form itself.Each week’s readings, organised around a new theme or topic, may seem fast-paced but serve a critical purpose in preparing students for exams while maximising the learning experience, especially since the contact time is 8 hours a week. This structure encourages independent learning with the text and brings personal interpretations to the surface. Apart from the riveting texts, my experience as an English major has been enhanced by the interactive seminars and engaging lectures that I attended. From intense debates about the goodness of Chaucer’s Troilus, to sharing our interpretations on online forums, a sense of community is created, amplifying our critical thinking skills and deepening our engagement with different perspectives while expressing our own.
The assessments for the module vary from online essay submissions, in-person examinations, and creative portfolio options. What sets these assessments apart from the rest is their flexibility, not only in terms of choosing your own texts but the question itself! For instance, students have the freedom to select two (or more) texts that appeal to them instead of being condemned to studying a particular book discussed in their seminar. Furthermore, they can even choose the question or the theme that they wish to study, giving them an opportunity to be well-prepared for the examinations, and shifting the focus from scoring well to writing about a theme that interests you. This doesn’t only boost the morale of students, but fuels their creativity and interest in the subject, making the overall experience, from the learning to the exams a memorable one!
Like Salman Rushdie once said, “And never forget that writing is as close as we get to keeping a hold on the thousand and one things- childhood, certainties, cities, doubts, dreams, instants, phrases, parents, loves - that go on slipping, like sand, through our fingers’, so don’t be afraid to begin your own journey with English Literature at King's College, London!