English Literature Summer School
An extraordinary opportunity for students with a passion for literature to discover a range of new authors and texts, and explore fresh approaches to familiar works.
Thematic coverage by period, combining close study of texts with lectures on historical and cultural context, and setting major authors side-by-side with less familiar works, will help students to appreciate the development of prose, verse and drama in English from the middle ages to the present day. We will not only engage in close textual analysis of Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic, Modernist and contemporary poets, but also evaluate these movements in the light of the poets’ own critical writings, before using their insights to help write some poetry of your own. In drama, we will compare playscripts to film adaptations, act out sections of the works, and attend a performance at the Globe theatre. The final day will be devoted to literary theory and criticism and will invite students to re-examine the texts they have studied in the light of competing theories of the nature and value of literature and the role of the critic.
The tutors for the course range widely in their specialisms, from Medieval folk tales to Renaissance drama to contemporary criticism. This ensures that over the course of the five days students will benefit from the broadest possible range of perspectives and approaches
University of London Union • 16th – 20th August (5 days) • open to students aged 15-18.
We currently only have waiting list places available for the Summer School, but the programme will be running again October 27th – 31st as the English Literature Autumn School. Advance registration is open for this course, and you can use the form at the bottom of this page to register.
2010 Programme:
Highlights of this course include:
- How to read Middle English
- Cross-dressing knights and lecherous ladies: gender in the literature Middle Ages
- Shakespeare and his world: Renaissance Humanism and the Elizabethan stage
- Trip to a production at Shakespeare’s Globe
- Prometheus and Frankenstein: creativity and religion in Romantic writing
- Ezra Pound and the Imagist movement
- Poetry-writing workshop
For a full five-day schedule, including details of each session, is available to download. Further information about tutors is available here. A poster to display or distribute in your school is available here.
You might also be interested in our Creative Writing Summer School.
Feedback from previous English Literature events:
“Very interesting. It explored English in ways that I had never thought about before.”
“The tutors showed huge passion and listened to and reflected ideas well.”
“Fab! Really interesting––great insight into aspects of English not covered by AS/A2 courses.”
“I liked the seminar format. It allowed everyone to contribute without putting people under pressure. The supporting material and further reading lists also looked really interesting.”
“I really enjoyed it; it gave a real sense of what the course would be like. The lectures were really good too.”
“Absolutely brilliant––I learnt so much, speakers were stimulating and it was great to be amongst other people who are genuinely enthusiastic about the same thing.”
“I found this course very insightful and interesting. I’d definitely do it again given the chance!”
Book a place:
The price of the English Summer School is £350 per student for five days. Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries to students who could not otherwise afford to attend. Please note that accommodation is not included, and must be arranged independently if required. Bookings for any event may be made by individual students or parents or through the school. To book a place or places at the English Summer School, or if you have any further questions, simply call on 0845 519 4827, email info@debatechamber.com, or use the form below.