English Literature

“Narrative is present in every age, in every place, in every society; it begins with the very history of mankind and there nowhere is nor has been a people without narrative” —Roland Barthes

In the English Literature major students enter a world of narrative. UQ is the only university in Queensland to offer breadth and depth in a range of courses examining the richness of literatures in English. Students who choose a major in English Literature learn to develop their enjoyment of reading and analytical skills through analysing the influential narratives that have shaped societies across time and place. Students who are passionate about literature, history, and culture often choose the English Literature major, while those who would like to combine literature with other media forms like film and TV (and plan to become English teachers) often choose the English major.

The English Literature major begins with two courses: one in literary classics (ENGL1800) and one in contemporary fiction (ENGL1500). Students then choose from a variety of elective courses in second year, including literary criticism and critical theory, the novel, world literature, Shakespeare and early modern literature, gothic fiction, and postmodernism. Gender and textuality, literary modernism, and Australian literature form the compulsory third year courses that conclude the major.

Students who excel in literature are encouraged to consider an extended major, and to plan for a one-year Honours degree after they complete their BA.

Hear more about this Major from Joy, a recent Bachelor of Arts student studying English Literature and Writing.

Study Options

Student Experience

"UQ’s English Literature syllabus provided me with a very solid grounding for postgraduate study. If you’re in Year 12 and you’re a wide reader and want to get into the habit of thinking carefully about what you read, this is definitely the best degree in Queensland for you. This is due above all to the quality of teaching at UQ. My tutors and lecturers in English — people like Associate Professor Lisa O’Connell, Dr Meegan Hasted, Dr Richard Newman, or Dr Margaret Henderson — were patient, charismatic, and extremely knowledgeable."

William Holbrook, UQ English Literature Graduate (current MPhil student at Cambridge University).

“I was a bit of a late bloomer to studying at university, so for me when it came to picking a program, it was purely just what I was interested in. English Literature does give you a very good set of skills that are interdisciplinary.”

Owen Morawitz, UQ English Literature Graduate

"It's really valuable for building those critical thinking skills and the way you can think critically about information you’re getting and where it’s coming from and how it’s constructed – all of those are really valuable skills for a wide range of industries.”

Sam Hammond, UQ English Literature Graduate

Research Development

We offer introductory to advanced undergraduate and Honours courses. As a Literature student, you will learn core skills in close reading, textual analysis, evidence-based argument, writing, and literary theory. You will gain an appreciation of the long history of literatures in English, from the early modern through to the contemporary period. There are opportunities for internships with libraries, local publishers, and digital humanities platforms. You’ll learn from leading university teachers and researchers, who are keen to share their passion for literature and its central place in the world.

UQ Literature students have great facilities in UQ Library, which has vast digital and physical collections. The specialist Fryer Library holds rare books, manuscripts, and one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Australian literature. Students can undertake private study in the Fryer collections under special entry conditions. We also teach some classes in the Fryer Library, and often run events with our Fryer colleagues who are very keen to support Literature Students. Students can undertake internships with the Fryer Library for credit (subject to availability), such as Emma Newman’s study of D.H. Lawrence in Australia

UQ is also home to AustLit, a comprehensive database of Australian writing across many genres. AustLit is a major digital humanities platform that supports students and researchers of Australian literature. Through internship courses, UQ students have the opportunity to work with AustLit (subject to availability), and often create excellent online digital resources.

The UQ English and Literature Society

English and English Literature Majors are strongly encouraged to join to meet like-minded students! UQEELS is formally affiliated with the UQ Student Union, and they run fun events, student support workshops, and work closely with academic staff develop new ideas and to pass on feedback about the major. They have a Facebook page and their email is uqeels@gmail.com and are very keen to welcome new members.

Careers

Learning Pathways through the English Literature major

In summary: a Literature Major = 16 units (ie 8 courses worth 2 units each)

A Literature Major comprises:

4 units for all English Literature Level 1 Compulsory Courses, and
6 units from English Literature Level 2 Electives Courses, and
6 units for all English Literature Level 3 Compulsory Courses

First year compulsory courses (complete both courses)

ENGL1500: Contemporary Literature: Reading and Writing showcases the best writing published in recent years, and focuses on the links between reading and writing. It will expose you to a range of different genres and ways of approaching literature. It is a great option for those combining English Literature, English, and / or Writing majors, or who are not sure which major to pursue after first year.

ENGL1800: Literary Classics: Texts and Traditions is designed to introduce students to the discipline of literary studies and which will take you through texts ranging from early modern drama to Romantic poetry to the 19^th- and 20^th-century realist novel to show how all these texts and genres engage with the issue of subjectivity.

Second year elective courses (choose 3 courses)

ENGL2040: Gothic Fiction studies one of the most influential imaginative traditions in English literature, featuring the macabre, the horrifying, the sensational, and the fantastical.

ENGL2060: Shakespeare and His Contemporaries introduces students to some of Shakespeare's most-admired and influential plays, and situates them within the rich early modern literary world. This course is highly recommended by the School of Education for students taking the BA / BEd (Secondary) leading to a teaching qualification in English.

ENGL2080 World Literature asks how literature helps readers and writers imagine their place globally, by focussing on literature in English that helps us think about transnationalism, mobility, and postcolonial / decolonial challenges to the Anglophone literary tradition.

ENGL2405: Thinking about Literature: Criticism and Theory is organized around a number of questions concerning literature (e.g. how do literary texts work: how they're constructed, what they do, the questions they raise, how they circulate and function) and a range of theorists’ answers to these questions. We strongly recommend you take this course before tackling third year courses, and if you are considering Honours.

ENGL2440: The Novel provides a history of the novel from its eighteenth-century origins to the present day and provides a critical framework to analyse this highly influential literary genre.

ENGL2630: Postmodern Literature: Fiction and Theory introduces you a range of fictional works that represent postmodern culture and to key theorists.

Third year (complete all 3 courses)

ENGL3100 Australian Literature considers recent Australian writing and the ways in which literature participates in major contemporary debates. This course is highly recommended by the School of Education for students taking the BA / BEd (Secondary) leading to a teaching qualification in English, and is also in the Studies in Australian Culture minor.

ENGL3500: Gender and Textuality studies a range of key fictional works in the field of women's writing and feminist literary theories, with an emphasis on post-1970 works. This course is also in the Gender Studies minor.

ENGL3900: The Birth of the Modern examines modern literature and influential writers and thinkers in the period 1850 to 1960.

Students in the Literature Extended Major must complete 24 units (12 courses). They take more electives in second year (10-12 units or 5-6 courses), and they have access to two extra third year courses:

ENGL3020 Journals, Repositories & Conferences is an internship course, with competitive entry requirements, that gives you the opportunity to tie what you learn in your courses to work-related practice in a range of workplaces including the UQ Library and the University of Queensland Press (depending on availability).

ENGL3030 Adaptation: Studies in Transmission Between Cultures and Forms considers the changes that occur as particular texts move between various cultural forms, including print, radio, theatre, television, and film and videogames.