BA English and American Literature
About this course
English and American literature together form one of the most expansive and enduring subjects in the humanities, encompassing centuries of fiction, poetry, drama and non-fiction from two distinct but deeply interconnected literary cultures. Reading literature carefully is an intellectual discipline in its own right, one that develops the capacity to attend closely to language, to understand texts within their historical and cultural contexts and to construct well-evidenced interpretive arguments. The University of East Anglia is a particularly distinguished place to study this subject. Its creative writing programme has shaped several generations of British literary life, and the critical culture of the English department has long been known for its seriousness and intellectual independence. On this three-year full-time programme you will read widely across both traditions, from early modern drama to the contemporary novel, from the American Renaissance to postcolonial voices writing in English, developing the skills to read closely, argue precisely and write with clarity and authority. The combination of English and American literature means you will consistently be asked to think comparatively, to notice how transatlantic exchange has shaped both traditions and how each has developed its own distinct forms and preoccupations. Studying literature trains habits of mind that prove valuable well beyond the subject itself: attentiveness to language, tolerance for complexity and ambiguity, the ability to hold multiple interpretations in view and the capacity to construct a persuasive argument from textual evidence. Graduates from English and American literature degrees work across a very wide range of fields, including publishing, journalism, broadcasting, education, law, marketing, public relations, the civil service and the cultural sector. The degree is also an excellent foundation for postgraduate study in literature, creative writing, cultural studies, journalism or any field that demands strong reading and writing skills.
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