study literature online

Free Literature Courses

• Social Sciences

Sikhism Through Its Scriptures

This course examines the Sikh scripture from a doctrinal and historical perspective by providing an overview of Sikh teachings as well as the historical context within which the scripture evolved and became canonized.

Digital Humanities in Practice: From Research Questions to Results

Combine literary research with data science to find answers in unexpected ways. Learn basic coding tools to help save time and draw insights from thousands of digital documents at once.

ChinaX Book Club: Five Authors, Five Books, Five Views of China

An exploration of the dynamics of contemporary China using the tools of close reading, discussion, and analysis.

Modern Masterpieces of World Literature

Examine how great modern writers capture the intricacies of our globalized world and how their works circulate within that world to find their own audiences.

Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature

Examine how cultures of the ancient world defined themselves through literature and how their vision of literature contributes to our understanding of civilization, culture, and literature today.

Masterpieces of World Literature

Embark on a global journey to explore the past, present, and future of world literature.

China Humanities: The Individual in Chinese Culture

Explore Chinese history and culture from the perspective of the individual through philosophical texts, literary works, and art.

Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice: Shylock

An exploration of the magnetic and ambivalent character of Shylock in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice .

Shakespeare's Life and Work

Learn how to read William Shakespeare's plays through his biography, Elizabethan and Jacobean history, and modern performance.

Shakespeare’s Othello: The Moor

Explore acts of storytelling in Shakespeare’s Othello alongside world-class artists who interpret Othello’s story in new forms and contexts today.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet: The Ghost

An exploration of the haunting figure at the heart of one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

Online courses in literature

Study with Oxford from anywhere in the world

Short online courses.

Our short online courses in literature include live-time weekly classes, day schools and flexible online courses.

Credit earned from some of these short courses is transferable towards our Certificate of Higher Education - a part-time undergraduate course in which you study a main subject discipline, but also undertake study in other academic subjects.

Browse short online courses in literature

Certificate in English Literature

Would you like to study literature in more depth and develop solid skills in critical analysis? Our part-time Certificate in English Literature covers a range of writing from Shakespeare to the twentieth century and teaches skills in the analysis of literature, including the ability to read closely and to recognise and apply approaches in contemporary literary theory.

Two study options are available, including one that can be studied mostly online, so you can choose your preferred mode of study to fit around your work, home or family life.

Taught part-time over two years, the course is equivalent to the first year of a full-time undergraduate English degree.

Find out more about the Certificate in English Literature .

Upcoming courses

Fantasy literature.

• Sat 08 Jun 2024
• 9:45am – 5:15pm

Advanced Creative Writing (Online)

• Mon 09 Sep 2024 – 22 Nov 2024

Advanced Writing Lives (Online)

Fiction by victorian women: george eliot, elizabeth gaskell (online), writing lives (online), literature and creative writing courses:.

Literature, creative writing and film studies

Mst in literature and arts (mla).

A Guide To Finding The Best Free Online English Literature Courses

Yashvi Peeti

Yashvi Peeti is an aspiring writer and an aspiring penguin. She has worked as an editorial intern with Penguin Random House India and HarperCollins Publishers India. She is always up for fangirling over poetry, taking a walk in a park, and painting tiny canvases. You can find her on Instagram @intangible.perception

View All posts by Yashvi Peeti

There’s a difference between reading a piece of work and critically analysing it. We’re all familiar with reading and enjoying published work. The study of English Literature covers the part where we analyze, discuss, and critically cover the themes of the work. This can include a wide range of work, from fiction to poetry to plays. If you’re bored in quarantine and want to be stimulated with insights about your favourite books, you can check out some of the abundant free online literature courses.

Maybe you only associate literature courses with reading a dense classic and having the process easier by hearing it being broken down by a lit professor. Free literature courses, however, offer more range than one would think. They can help you savour poetry and provide context for its glorious metaphors. You can also explore topics like the feminist movement with the help of various published works. Without further ado, let’s get into where to find these free online English Literature courses and what to expect from them.

Free Online English Literature Crash Courses

Crash Courses are educational and compact. They contain valuable, insightful information that’s delivered over a relatively short period of time. My personal favourite online Literature Crash Course is Crash Course Literature started by the Vlogbrothers, John and Hank Green. John Green starts the course by making us ponder on why we read. He tries to answer this throughout the course by looking at the historical context and modern relevance of famous works of literature. He talks about these works in a way that’s accessible, interesting and appealing.

Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. By signing up you agree to our terms of use

Free Online Literature Courses Offered By Universities

Coursera offers a wide range of English Literature Courses offered by universities all around the world. Most of the courses are free and accessible in terms of their content. If you want the course certification, you can pay the required fee. Some fascinating free Literature courses I’ve come across on Coursera are:

1) Modern & Contemporary American Poetry offered by The University of Pennsylvania – This course offers videos that show actual classroom interaction. The teachers discuss individual poems written by classic poets like Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. The students lend their individual interpretation, perspective, and understanding to the various works discussed.

2) Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction offered by The University of Virginia – This course sets context for the study of historical fiction. Some renowned historical fiction authors discuss their famous works with the professor during some modules of the course. Some of these include Fever by Mary Beth Kane and Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe.

You can also check out the free online English Literature courses offered by edX.

University Websites

A lot of universities offer free, top-notch courses on their course websites. Here’s a tiny list of some of these universities and some of the best English Literature courses offered by them. Keep in mind that since the courses are free, they cannot be taken for university credit. They will, however, tingle your curiosity and expand your literary horizons in unforeseen ways.

Harvard University :

1) Masterpieces of World Literature – This course explores how literature around the world intertwines with global culture. It does this with works of Homer, Voltaire, Jhumpa Lahiri, Lu Xun, and more.

2) Modern Masterpieces of World Literature – This course explores global works that range from medieval tales to contemporary novels. It does so with works of Jorge Luis Borges, Eileen Chang, Orhan Pamuk, and more.

Yale University :

1) Introduction to Theory of Literature  – This free English Literature Course helps students reflect on how approaches like structuralism, deconstruction, and feminism can be used interpret literary texts.

2) The American Novel Since 1945 – In this course, a wide range of works from 1945 to present will be explored. This will include works of Richard Wright, J. D. Salinger, Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarthy, and more.

University of Oxford : Who says literature courses can only be experienced as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)? Tune into these awesomely educational podcasts offered by University of Oxford!

1) George Eliot – This podcast consists of three lectures covering her literary reputation. It also explores how her narrative structure relates to the classical notions of comedy and tragedy.

2) Fantasy Literature – These audio lectures dive into famous authors of fantasy literature including but not limited to C. S. Lewis, Elizabeth Knox, and Susan Cooper.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology :

1) Popular Culture and Narrative: Literature, Comics, and Culture – This course investigates how more traditional literary texts have influenced comics and vice versa.

2) Reading Fiction: Dysfunctional Families – Take this course to analyse fictional works through the lens of “dysfunctional families.”  This theme is explored through works of Arundhati Roy, Mary Shelley, James Baldwin, and more.

3) Medieval Literature: Medieval Women Writers – This course serves as an introduction to medieval European Literature from the perspective of women writers. Some of the most famous women of the period like Hildegard of Bingen, Heloise of Paris, Marie de France, and Joan of Arc will be studied, along with some lesser known ones.

4) Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies – The introductory session will talk about Black matters and why Black languages matter. The theme will be delved into with works of James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Edwidge Danticat, and more.

Open University

1) Exploring books for children: words and pictures – The course description says it best: “you will learn how children’s books use words and pictures together in remarkably sophisticated ways to communicate both to young and older readers, drawing on examples from the classics, such as Beatrix Potter’s Tales of Peter Rabbit , and from contemporary children’s authors such as Anthony Browne, author of Gorilla . ” 

2) Icarus: entering the world of myth – This free online English literature course will introduce you to the classical myth of Icarus and its various retellings in later periods.

I hope the article serves as a starting point for you to venture into free online English Literature courses that most suit your interests. Go ahead and tip toe around the fascinating literary elements or deep dive into the vital role of books in historical movements.

For more resources for your exploration into Literature, check out our articles: Who Was Virginia Woolf? and 16 Jane Eyre Retellings .

You Might Also Like

Explore millions of high-quality primary sources and images from around the world, including artworks, maps, photographs, and more.

Explore migration issues through a variety of media types

• Part of The Streets are Talking: Public Forms of Creative Expression from Around the World
• Part of The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Winter 2020)
• Part of Cato Institute (Aug. 3, 2021)
• Part of University of California Press
• Part of Open: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
• Part of Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1 (Winter 2012)
• Part of R Street Institute (Nov. 1, 2020)
• Part of Leuven University Press
• Part of UN Secretary-General Papers: Ban Ki-moon (2007-2016)
• Part of Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. 12, No. 4 (August 2018)
• Part of Leveraging Lives: Serbia and Illegal Tunisian Migration to Europe, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Mar. 1, 2023)
• Part of UCL Press

Harness the power of visual materials—explore more than 3 million images now on JSTOR.

Enhance your scholarly research with underground newspapers, magazines, and journals.

Explore collections in the arts, sciences, and literature from the world’s leading museums, archives, and scholars.

The best free cultural &

educational media on the web

• Online Courses
• Certificates
• Degrees & Mini-Degrees
• Audio Books

Free Online Literature Courses

Get free Lit­er­a­ture cours­es online from the world’s lead­ing uni­ver­si­ties. You can down­load these audio & video cours­es straight to your com­put­er or mp3 play­er. For more online cours­es, vis­it our com­plete col­lec­tion,  1,700 Free Online Cours­es from Top Uni­ver­si­ties .

For a com­plete list of online cours­es, please vis­it our com­plete col­lec­tion, 1,700 Free Online Cours­es from Top Uni­ver­si­ties .

For a list of online cer­tifi­cate pro­grams, vis­it 200 Online Cer­tifi­cate & Micro­cre­den­tial Pro­grams from Lead­ing Uni­ver­si­ties & Com­pa­nies , which fea­tures pro­grams from our part­ners Cours­era , Udac­i­ty , Future­Learn and edX .

And if you’re inter­est­ed in Online Mini-Mas­ters and Mas­ter’s Degrees pro­grams from uni­ver­si­ties, see our col­lec­tion: Online Degrees & Mini Degrees: Explore Mas­ters, Mini Mas­ters, Bach­e­lors & Mini Bach­e­lors from Top Uni­ver­si­ties .

• 1,700 Free Online Courses
• 200 Online Certificate Programs
• 100+ Online Degree & Mini-Degree Programs
• 1,150 Free Movies
• 1,000 Free Audio Books
• 150+ Best Podcasts
• 800 Free eBooks
• 200 Free Textbooks
• 300 Free Language Lessons
• 150 Free Business Courses
• Free K-12 Education
• Get Our Daily Email

Free Courses

• Art & Art History
• Classics/Ancient World
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Engineering
• Environment
• Political Science
• Writing & Journalism
• All 1500 Free Courses
• 1000+ MOOCs & Certificate Courses

Receive our Daily Email

Free updates, get our daily email.

Get the best cultural and educational resources on the web curated for you in a daily email. We never spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Free Movies

• 1150 Free Movies Online
• Free Film Noir
• Silent Films
• Documentaries
• Martial Arts/Kung Fu
• Free Hitchcock Films
• Free Charlie Chaplin
• Free John Wayne Movies
• Free Tarkovsky Films
• Free Dziga Vertov
• Free Oscar Winners
• Free Language Lessons
• All Languages

Free eBooks

• 700 Free eBooks
• Free Philosophy eBooks
• The Harvard Classics
• Philip K. Dick Stories
• Neil Gaiman Stories
• David Foster Wallace Stories & Essays
• Hemingway Stories
• Great Gatsby & Other Fitzgerald Novels
• HP Lovecraft
• Edgar Allan Poe
• Free Alice Munro Stories
• Jennifer Egan Stories
• George Saunders Stories
• Hunter S. Thompson Essays
• Joan Didion Essays
• Gabriel Garcia Marquez Stories
• David Sedaris Stories
• Stephen King
• Golden Age Comics
• Free Books by UC Press
• Life Changing Books

Free Audio Books

• 700 Free Audio Books
• Free Audio Books: Fiction
• Free Audio Books: Poetry
• Free Audio Books: Non-Fiction

Free Textbooks

• Free Physics Textbooks
• Free Computer Science Textbooks
• Free Math Textbooks

K-12 Resources

• Free Video Lessons
• Web Resources by Subject
• Quality YouTube Channels
• Teacher Resources
• All Free Kids Resources

Free Art & Images

• All Art Images & Books
• The Rijksmuseum
• Smithsonian
• The Guggenheim
• The National Gallery
• The Whitney
• LA County Museum
• Stanford University
• British Library
• Google Art Project
• French Revolution
• Getty Images
• Guggenheim Art Books
• Met Art Books
• Getty Art Books
• New York Public Library Maps
• Museum of New Zealand
• Smarthistory
• Coloring Books
• All Bach Organ Works
• All of Bach
• 80,000 Classical Music Scores
• Free Classical Music
• Live Classical Music
• 9,000 Grateful Dead Concerts
• Alan Lomax Blues & Folk Archive

Writing Tips

• William Zinsser
• Kurt Vonnegut
• Toni Morrison
• Margaret Atwood
• David Ogilvy
• Billy Wilder
• All posts by date

Personal Finance

• Open Personal Finance
• Amazon Kindle
• Architecture
• Artificial Intelligence
• Beat & Tweets
• Comics/Cartoons
• Current Affairs
• English Language
• Entrepreneurship
• Food & Drink
• Graduation Speech
• How to Learn for Free
• Internet Archive
• Language Lessons
• Most Popular
• Neuroscience
• Photography
• Pretty Much Pop
• Productivity
• UC Berkeley
• Uncategorized
• Video - Arts & Culture
• Video - Politics/Society
• Video - Science
• Video Games

Great Lectures

• Michel Foucault
• Sun Ra at UC Berkeley
• Richard Feynman
• Joseph Campbell
• Jorge Luis Borges
• Leonard Bernstein
• Richard Dawkins
• Buckminster Fuller
• Walter Kaufmann on Existentialism
• Jacques Lacan
• Roland Barthes
• Nobel Lectures by Writers
• Bertrand Russell
• Oxford Philosophy Lectures

Receive our newsletter!

Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.

Great Recordings

• T.S. Eliot Reads Waste Land
• Sylvia Plath - Ariel
• Joyce Reads Ulysses
• Joyce - Finnegans Wake
• Patti Smith Reads Virginia Woolf
• Albert Einstein
• Charles Bukowski
• Bill Murray
• Fitzgerald Reads Shakespeare
• William Faulkner
• Flannery O'Connor
• Tolkien - The Hobbit
• Allen Ginsberg - Howl
• Dylan Thomas
• Anne Sexton
• John Cheever
• David Foster Wallace

Book Lists By

• Neil deGrasse Tyson
• Ernest Hemingway
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Allen Ginsberg
• Patti Smith
• Henry Miller
• Christopher Hitchens
• Joseph Brodsky
• Donald Barthelme
• David Bowie
• Samuel Beckett
• Art Garfunkel
• Marilyn Monroe
• Picks by Female Creatives
• Zadie Smith & Gary Shteyngart
• Lynda Barry

Favorite Movies

• Kurosawa's 100
• David Lynch
• Werner Herzog
• Woody Allen
• Wes Anderson
• Luis Buñuel
• Roger Ebert
• Susan Sontag
• Scorsese Foreign Films
• Philosophy Films
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
• November 2021
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020
• November 2020
• October 2020
• September 2020
• August 2020
• February 2020
• January 2020
• December 2019
• November 2019
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018
• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• February 2017
• January 2017
• December 2016
• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• February 2015
• January 2015
• December 2014
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• February 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• August 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• February 2011
• January 2011
• December 2010
• November 2010
• October 2010
• September 2010
• August 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• August 2009
• February 2009
• January 2009
• December 2008
• November 2008
• October 2008
• September 2008
• August 2008
• February 2008
• January 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007
• October 2007
• September 2007
• August 2007
• February 2007
• January 2007
• December 2006
• November 2006
• October 2006
• September 2006

©2006-2024 Open Culture, LLC. All rights reserved.

• Advertise with Us
• Copyright Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

Bibliomania brings you the internet's best collection of classic texts and study resources.

The fiction section has the complete, fully searchable texts of hundreds of novels.

The Poetry section has world famous poems by everyone from Blake to Keats , together with the Oxford Collected English verse and Collected French verse . In the Drama section we have the complete works of Shakespeare , and many other plays from the Elizabethan, restoration and modern periods. Bibliomania has created Literature Study Guides to more than 100 of the most studied texts. These will help students to get top grades, and non-students to get more out a reading of the text or a visit to a play.

Bibliomania's Reference books include Webster's Dictionary , Hobson Jobson , Brewer's Phrase and Fable , Soules Synonymes and many other useful books.

Our Non-Fiction section includes Das Capital , Culpepper's Herbal , and many more.

We are building a collection Biographies . Or if you are looking for Religious texts , we have the King James' Bible and The Koran .

Enjoy our books. Much more information and our a huge short story collection can be found on the frames version of Bibliomania .

Literature courses

Explore the absorbing world of literature and gain critical and analytical skills by studying literature courses online.

Introduction to Literature

Study online courses in literature and explore the world of career options available in publishing, education, bookselling, writing and so much more.

Take a deep dive into incredible stories from across the globe. Learn what makes great literature stand the test of time, and unpack the cultural, political and social issues that books explore.

Studying literature courses helps to build your critical reading skills, and will equip you with the knowledge to undertake narrative analyses, discover how great works of literature are built and developed over time, and to assess the impact of literature on society.

Explore how you can study literature online through Open Universities Australia, and find the right study format for you. Whether it’s a short course, individual subjects, or a degree, there is something to be gained for all literature enthusiasts.

Discover literature courses

Online literature subjects and short courses.

Undergraduate | MAQ-ENGX1002

Literature: Modern and Contemporary

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 22 Jul 2024

Undergraduate | TAS-HEN102

English: Texts and Traditions

Starts 22 Jul 2024, 04 Nov 2024

Undergraduate | CUR-ENG300

Decolonising Place

Starts 26 Aug 2024

Undergraduate | GRF-LTR110

Dangerous Pleasures: An Introduction to Literary Studies

Starts 04 Nov 2024

Online literature degrees

Undergraduate | MAQ-ART-DEG

Bachelor of Arts

An arts degree that no one else has

3 years full time or part time equivalent

Available majors

• Ancient History , 
• Applied Ethics , 
• Creative Writing , 
• Indigenous Studies , 
• International Relations , 
• Modern History , 
• Philosophy , 
• Politics , 

Undergraduate | GRF-ART-DEG

Innovators, communicators and creators start here!

• Art History , 
• Criminal Justice , 
• Journalism , 
• Literature , 
• Public Relations , 
• Screen and Media Studies , 

Undergraduate | USQ-AEL-DEG

Bachelor of Arts (English Literature)

Undergraduate | CUR-ELC-CTF

Undergraduate Certificate in English and Cultural Studies

Discover how cultures are reflected in popular texts

6 months full time or part time equivalent

Discover 71 ways to study literature with leading Australian universities.

Need help choosing the right course?

Our student advisors are here to guide you with expert advice on:

• Enrolling and planning your studies
• Finding a study option that suits your needs
• Understanding your funding options

When would you like to chat?

Let me pick a time.

Find a time that suits you for a free 1:1 consultation with a student advisor.

Call me anytime

A student advisor will call you, usually within 30 minutes during business hours.

Tell us a little about yourself

A student advisor will call you to answer your questions.

Looking for other ways to start the conversation? Contact us

Student reviews

We support thousands of students on their study journey every year.

Our advisors are here to help with your study goals from enrolment to completion 7 days a week.

Literature study FAQs

What is english literature.

English literature is defined as literature, including novels, short stories, poetry and other literary works, written in the English language, or translated to English. Whilst previously ‘English literature’ was thought to only refer to literature written in England or by English authors, we now have a broader understanding of English literature to incorporate works written in English or translated to English that have made a significant literary impact, regardless of where they were written.

What English literature courses are available through Open Universities Australia?

There are a wide range of English literature courses available through Open Universities Australia, including degrees, short courses, and individual subjects you can take separately or as part of working towards a degree. English literature studies encompass many topics, so you can choose to focus your study by choosing specific subjects that align with your interests.

Most individual subjects are themed, for example, modern and contemporary fiction, or post-colonial narratives. You can browse all of these literature courses online, and also find out what subjects are compulsory as part of a degree, and what subjects count as electives.

What do you learn in a literature course?

What you learn in a literature course depends on the specific topic covered. Broadly speaking, however, you’ll learn how to analyse and dissect works of literature to understand the stylistic and thematic aspects of the author’s writing.

You’ll also learn to critically assess literary works and the impact they have from a political, social and philosophical perspective, as well as how they can be interpreted as historical artefacts.

Literature courses teach critical reading, analysis and comprehension skills that are useful beyond the study of literary works, and can be applied in different work and life settings.

How long is a literature course?

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

If you study a degree in literature through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.   

Why should I study literature?

You should study literature if you’re interested in learning and understanding literary works and their impact on society, and want to formalise your skills in critically reading and interpreting literary works.

If you are interested in writing literature yourself , or developing a career as a critic, in publishing, or in teaching literature, studying literature courses will provide you with skills and qualifications that will be relevant to your career.

Why should I study literature online?

You should study literature online if you want to balance your study with existing commitments, such as paid work or caring responsibilities.

If you’re looking to grow your skill set to support your existing career, or maybe seeking to retrain while still working or undertaking other responsibilities, studying online through Open Universities Australia can provide a flexible way for you to balance your study with the rest of your life.

Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements  We have a unique open-door policy  that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
• You have total control over how you study Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
• You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
• We’ll help you navigate the university world Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

What jobs can you get with an English literature degree?

There are a variety of jobs you can get with an English literature degree. Directions you can take include:

• Working in publishing or editing
• Writing fiction, poetry  or non-fiction
• Teaching English literature (with further study in education )
• Working in library services
• Working as a journalist  or content writer
• Working in communications and marketing

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us  to find out more.

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool , or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI)  during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us  and we’ll talk you through it.

You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions .

Student stories and study advice

The 10 best creative writing short courses to kick off your practice

From arts law to actress: Elise McCann’s road to success

What is Auslan? Here are 7 facts to know

How long does it take to learn a language?

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 515,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

Enrol in courses from 25 of Australia's leading universities

Keep track of your favourites

Create a free account or sign in to:

• Save your favourite courses
• Access your saved courses on any device
• Compare your saved courses using our compare tool

Create an account

Already have an account?

Online English – Literature, BA

Get more information.

• Name * First Last
• Degree * English - Literature, BA
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Privacy Notice

Program at a Glance

• In State Tuition
• Out of State Tuition

Learn more about the cost to attend UCF.

Develop a deep understanding of language, literature and writing.

In today’s world the ability to think critically and write clearly is imperative. A bachelor’s degree in English literature will teach you how to read and analyze the written word with its rich context in mind.

When you earn your English literature degree online, you’ll delve into the study of linguistics, rhetoric and theory within both historical and contemporary literature. You’ll develop skills in research, communication and persuasive writing, allowing you to convey bold ideas in a clear, concise manner. In addition, you’ll discover how to analyze literature as a medium for historical, cultural and theoretical commentary.

As a graduate of UCF Online, your Bachelor of Arts in English Literature will prepare you to succeed in a variety of professional pursuits, from journalism to law. With an emphasis on written communication skills, you’ll be poised to step forward as a leader in academic or other professional settings. Get started today and earn your bachelor’s degree in English literature.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Ready to get started, course overview, gothic literature.

A study of Gothic literature (prose, poetry, drama) in the British Isles and its cultural contexts.

Harlem, Haiti, and Havana

A comparative approach to African American and Caribbean writers, focusing on literary styles, historical contexts, and themes such as nationalism, popular music, and folk religion.

World Authors

Study of the works of a single non-British and non-U.S. author who composes in English.

Skills You'll Learn

• Enhance your overall analytical and critical thinking skills by engaging with complex texts and extracting meaning.
• Learn how to articulate your ideas clearly and persuasively, construct well-structured arguments, and present your thoughts coherently in essays, research papers, and other written assignments.
• Gain insights into the social, political, and cultural forces that shape societies and their literary expressions.

Career Projections

Annual Job Openings

Job Growth Between 2019 - 2029

Source: Lightcast™ . 2024

Career Opportunities

• higher education administrator

Related Online Programs

• Writing and Rhetoric, BA
• Career and Technical Education, BS
• English - Technical Communication, BA

Before you go, check this out!

We have lots more on the site to show you. You've only seen one page. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time.

How to Learn English Literature on Your Own (A 12-Step Roadmap)

When I asked my mom, an English major, the best way to go about learning English Literature outside of a formal program, she gave me a piece of advice that struck me as both exciting and overwhelming. She told me, rather nonchalantly, to just “read everything”. 

Everything? With millions of books out there, how was I supposed to pick which ones to read? The last thing I wanted was to read the wrong books and waste time. And what about literary criticism and theory? I wanted a systematic approach.

So I asked her to elaborate, and perused college curriculums, and spent way too much time in the forums reviewing what literary scholars had to say on the matter of self-eduction in English Literature (a lot of them also say read everything). 

Our conversation and my research led to the creation of this 12-step roadmap for teaching yourself English Literature in a systematic way. 

It’s designed for autodidacts wanting a foundational education in literary analysis, criticism, and the great works of English Literature, without going to school. It will also help you become a better writer, thinker, and reader. 

The roadmap is meant to be followed in order, as each step builds on the last. But feel free to skip around as well. And let your curiosity guide you more than any program or book list. That’s the best way to stay motivated. 

That said, let’s begin our journey through the stories, essays, poems, and plays that stayed with us, that meant something.

Note: If you want a book-only plan to self-learn English lit, check out my 14-book reading program for beginners.

Grab Your Free 14-Book Program for Self-Studying English Literature as a Novice

Subscribe to our newsletter and get 14 book recommendations across 4 categories that I wish I had read when first starting out. 

1. Learn Your Literary Devices 

Literary devices are techniques writers use to communicate meanings that go beyond what the words say on the page. A metaphor may be deployed to create a feeling of disgust in the reader, an allusion to borrow power from another great work, and a symbol to convey double meaning. 

It would do you well to review the most important literary devices , as they’ll be mentioned regularly in lectures and articles, and used frequently by the authors. 

Being able to spot them will also make your reading of the great works of English Literature more enjoyable and your own writing about literature more impressive. 

Pro Tip: Grabbing a good English dictionary is another great way to prepare for your readings. I know that when I’m reading a book I’d like to avoid opening up my phone to look up a word; even just a text message from a friend can send me down a rabbit hole. 

2. Watch Crash Course English Literature 

In many of my self-education roadmaps, Crash Course earns an early spot in the steps. My fondness of the series owes mostly to the teacher’s ability to introduce academic subjects in an entertaining yet intellectual way. 

Crash Course English Literature offers 36 videos, many of them analyzing and interpreting well-known novels, plays, and poems. So it’s a simple way for the beginning autodidact in English to familiarize themself with some of the greatest works. 

As is the case for any video series in English Literature, the lectures will hit harder and be more interesting if you have already read the work the teacher is discussing.

However, you can still enjoy these videos without knowing the plots of the stories beforehand. 

Alternative Study Approach: If you’re short on time, you can also give yourself a solid education in English Lit by following this Habit-Based Literary Education Plan . Otherwise, keep trucking forth!

3. Take Some Introductory English Literature Online Course 

As an autodidact , it can help to test English Literature’s waters by taking some introductory online courses. This gives you a chance to determine if this is a subject you truly wish to study for the long haul. 

You’ll have the benefit of a professor reading the books alongside you and providing you with their interpretations, hence displaying to you astute literary analysis in action. 

Most courses work by assigning you classics to read. During the lecture portions, the teacher will point out things the uninitiated reader may miss on their first read. 

For example, in Yale’s free “The American Novel Since 1945” course, the professor opened my eyes to the fact that the protagonist’s name, Haze Motes, has a biblical significance. 

Below I’ve listed some of the introductory courses I’ve found most helpful in trying to break into English Literature. The list spans three of the main literary forms: novels, plays, and poetry. 

Taking all six courses is close to what many English Literature major’s do in their two years at University, excluding perhaps a course in English composition and gen ed courses like ECON 101.  

Introduction to American Literature 1: Beginnings to Civil War

This is one of the best courses I’ve found to learn about literature as a beginner. The NYU course is considered by faculty members and students to be the bootcamp for literature majors.

The professor, who calls himself the drill sergeant, is enthusiastic and expects a lot from his students.

I highly consider this if you want to learn about American literary tradition, American culture, interpretive techniques for reading, and to grow as a literary scholar.

The American Novel Since 1945 (Online Yale Course)

The American Novel Since 1945 is a free Yale course found on Open Yale Courses (OYC). Its 26 lectures are recordings of live classes, so it feels almost like you’re actually at University. This course was one of my first impressions of academic English Literature. I loved it.  

Throughout the course, you’ll read 14 of the greatest American novels written after 1945, tracing the major thematic and technical developments of the literary form during that period. 

Among other books, you’ll get to study these heavy hitters: 

• Black Boy by Richard Wright (eye-opening and beautifully written)
• On the Road by Jack Kerouac (my father’s favorite book)
• Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (deeply disturbing and poetic)
• The Human Stain by Philip Roth (one of my favorite novels of all time)

My favorites were The Human Stain (really prescient of cancel culture) and Black Boy. I liked starting with this course because its works were more current and as a result easier to connect with and enjoy than works from medieval England.

I was able to use novels that engaged me to build my literary chops up to a level that enabled me to understand and appreciate older, more difficult works when the time came to read those. 

Sign up for Audible’s 30-day free trial to get a free audiobook .

Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Faulkner (Online Yale Course) 

Another Yale free course is Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Faulkner , which offers you the chance to study the major works of three of the most influential American writers of the early 20th century. 

Drawing on her knowledge of US history and modernism, Professor Wai Chee Dimock examines the interconnections between these three writers and their works.

Working your way through classics like The Great Gatsby and The Sound and the Fury and watching their corresponding lectures will improve not only your ability to interpret literature, but also your understanding of US history around the turn of the 20th century. 

Shakespeare’s Hamlet (HarvardX)

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is another free, self-paced course, this time created by Harvard and hosted on edX. 

Reading Hamlet with Harvard professor Stephen Greenblatt is an excellent way to get acquainted with the Bard and what many call his greatest tragedy, for which there are numerous interpretations, as you’ll learn in the course.

The course involves video lectures, a reading of Hamlet, conversations with experts, and readings from literary scholars like James Joyce. 

Here are some things you’ll learn:

If you’re into tracking how many books you read per year, it may strike you as counterproductive to focus an entire course on one work, let alone one character in that work. 

If so, I beg you to throw that 21st century notion of efficiency away. Many great writers of old read very few books by today’s standards. Thoreau re-read Homer’s works numerous times, always finding something new. 

Just look at what he had to say in his chapter “ Reading ” from the book Walden: 

“Books must be read as deliberately and reservedly as they were written.” 

Some works deserve a near obsessive amount of attention, for they have influenced so many other great works of literature, and have so many life lessons, meanings, and writing techniques to offer the careful reader. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is surely one of them. Dig deep into it and you’ll be rewarded.   

Modern & Contemporary Poetry (UPenn via Coursera) 

Modern & Contemporary Poetry is a free, self-paced course created by UPenn and hosted on Coursera. It’s an introductory level poetry course that takes around 93 hours to complete and is focused on US poetry, especially the experimental types. 

By taking this course you’ll learn how to analytically read poems that you may have thought difficult beforehand. You’ll also expose yourself to famous poems by writers like Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman and John Asherby, thereby filling your mind with creative material. 

One of the best parts about this course is how you can attend weekly interactive webcasts where you can discuss the poems with other students and TAs. This feature addresses one of the major gaps in a self-education in English, the ability to discuss literature in real-time with other intelligent readers. 

Old English Literature: Language as History (The Great Courses)

Old English Literature is a self-paced online course hosted by The Great Courses, a website The Wall Street Journal called “A serious force in American Education”. 

This course will give you an understanding and appreciation of the foundations of English literary conventions and language, plus some cool knowledge about English medieval history. 

By analyzing classic texts like Beowulf and discussing the origins and nature of the English language, Professor Renee Trilling PhD takes you back in time to learn about the beginnings of the English literary tradition. 

“Studying Old English language and literature is at once challenging, fun, and an utter revelation. It’s as close to time travel as you can get.” 

-Renée R. Trilling, PhD

Exploring the language alongside the literary works it produces will reveal how the stories and words express the values and customs of the early English people, a people whose culture would soon spread across the globe. 

If you take all five of these courses, give yourself a pat on the back and go grab a beer at a pub or something English like that. You deserve it.

With freelance writing and studying to do, it took me about two months to finish just that first course. So congrats. Now let’s focus on building up your powers of literary interpretation and analysis. 

4. Grab a Copy of How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Noticing my recent uptick in novel consumption, my friend gifted me this handy book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor . It serves as a sort of crash course in literary analysis.

By walking you through common symbols (vampires, weather, illness, etc) and sources of intertextuality (Shakespeare and the Bible), Professor Thomas Foster teaches you how to find the deeper meanings within literary works. 

For example, one chapter is about vampires, where Foster discusses how vampires in literature often represent not just a scary character, but also a man trying to steal the innocence of a younger woman. 

Definitely grab a copy of this book and either read through the whole thing or use it as a reference guide when you read great works. 

5. Get Acquainted with Literary Theory & Criticism 

University students usually have to take one course in literary theory and another in literary criticism. Although the two disciplines are closely related, they do differ. 

Literary criticism is the act of interpreting, appreciating, and evaluating a work of literature. It’s practical. In many of the online courses you’ll take the lecturer is sharing their literary criticism as they discuss the work. 

Literary theory, on the other hand, represents the different literary lenses through which you can view a work of literature. It’s therefore theoretical. It provides approaches you can use to get meaning out of literature and do literary criticism. 

For example, a literary critic using Marxist literary theory to analyze 1984 will come up with different interpretations of the book than someone operating under formalism, a school of criticism which treats works as separate from their social and historical context.  

For the dedicated autodidact of English Literature, it’s a good idea to get a basic grasp of these two disciplines. This enhances your reading experience and enables you to think and write more effectively about literature. 

Here are some ways to study the fundamentals literary theory and criticism: 

• Take Yale’s Introduction to Literary Theory: This free online course surveys the main trends in literary theory over the last hundred years. It tackles questions like what is literature, what is its purpose, and how does it relate to the reader? 
• Read Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction: If short on time grab this book from the Oxford series of very short introductions. 
• Review An Introduction to Literature, Theory, and Criticism: This beginner-level textbook will get you thinking about the biggest questions in literary theory and criticism.
• Peruse Essays of Literary Criticism on Your Favorite Work: You can often find books, articles, or essays of literary criticism on certain works. For example, I found this LOTR criticism book Tolkien and the Study of His Sources: Critical Essays . 

If you’re really interested in these topics, then Benjamin Mcevoy, a brilliant literary essayist and Oxford graduate in English Literature, recommends the books listed below for learning about literary criticism and theory like you would at Oxford: 

I highly recommend checking out his YouTube channel or joining his book club Hardcore Literature as well. They’re excellent resources for the self-educator in English Literature. 

Hey, and if you like thinking in the theoretical, consider checking out my philosophy self-eduction roadmap . This is a great thing to study alongside literature.

6. Study an Annotated Copy of a Classic Work

At this point, consider reading an annotated copy of a great work, perhaps your favorite novel, so that you can see literary analysis in action as you go through the book. 

In writing alongside the text, the annotator points out things like historical references, narrative techniques, underlying meanings, and other subtleties you may have missed reading it on your own. 

For example, here’s an annotated copy of Pride and Prejudice , which shows the original text on the left page and the annotations on the right one: 

Annotations such as these are meant to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the work. Some copies also give you questions that will help you think more deeply about the text. 

In her Medium Article , Author Amy Teegan (MA English) argues that reading annotated works is one of the best ways to learn to read and think about literature like an academic: 

“Studying the annotations closely will not only teach you about that particular book, but it will also teach you what to look for in other books. What kinds of common symbolism literary critics recognize. What kinds of word play is notable and what kind of historical context these writers are operating in.”

To get an annotated copy, simply google “annotated copy of {work’s title} .” If it’s a well-known work, you’ll likely find one. 

As you read, take your time and think critically about the annotations. Do you agree? What evidence is there to support the claim? And if you don’t, what annotation would you make instead? 

Are you a beginner in the classics? Learn how I transformed from non-reader to avid reader of the classics in my article out my guide How to Start Reading the Classics (10 Steps for Beginners) .

7. Form the Habit of Writing Book Reviews or Critical Essays

Now that you have a good basic education in English Literature, consider starting a blog or YouTube channel where you write book reviews or critical essays and publish them publicly on the internet. 

This serves as an accountability mechanism, which is often missing in self-education programs. The simple knowledge that someone will see your work, even if it’s just friends and family, forces you to take studying the work more seriously. 

As you read, you’re more likely to do the following active reading habits: 

• Take Better Notes: You’ll write your own reflections on the prose or scene because those thoughts will be valuable when you write your review. 
• Ask More Questions: You’ll mark down questions to investigate later for your piece, such as “why did this author choose this odd scene as their climax?” 
• Read More Closely: You’ll inspect everything with a detective’s eye, searching to find something unique to share in your essay. 

Then, when you go to write the review, you’ll have to revisit the notes and underlines you made when reading. This act of returning helps you lock the information into your brain . You’re less likely to have that moment of frustration that occurs when someone asks what the book was about and you blank. 

Writing reviews also forces you to think more deeply about the book in order to create a final piece that expresses an informed and sophisticated opinion. 

As you write and rewrite, questions will arise like “is that argument supportable?” and “how does that symbol I underlined enhance the scene?” 

Plus, to answer these questions you might have to explore what other writers and scholars have said about the piece of literature in their essays or reviews, which in turn enhances your own understanding of the work. 

As an added benefit of publishing online, you may even be able to monetize your YouTube channel or blog down the line through ads or affiliate marketing, where you can get a commission cut if someone buys the book in your review. Perhaps you’ll get so good that you can make a career out of being a literary critic. 

Here’s a cool video about how to get book reviews published in literary journals (although it’s for new books). 

In sum, publishing online about the books you read forces you to be a deeper reader and a better writer, and may open up professional pathways in literature. 

8. Pick One Literary Giant & Read Everything They’ve Written

Now that you have a basic understanding of literary criticism, theory, and analysis, as well as exposure to some of the great works of English literature, it may be a good idea to do what Oxford English Lit students call the Special Author Module. 

This is where you pick one author and read everything they’ve written. Doing this allows you to get a deep understanding of one of your favorite authors. You become an expert in them, especially if you’re reading critical essays about the writer’s works as well. This expertise can be a real boon to your confidence. 

Also, by reading an author’s entire corpus you are able to see an overarching message that the writer is trying to communicate and note how they developed as a writer, especially if you read them chronologically. You can see where they improved and how their ideas changed over time. 

As for which author to pick, it’s best to pick an author you enjoy who is also influential in English Literature. In his video on how to get an Oxford English Education for Free , Benjamin Mcevoy states that he did Joseph Conrad for his special author program.

Here were the other options for special authors when he was at Oxford: 

Like any list of great authors, this one is missing some big names, so if you have someone else in mind like Fitzgerald or Zadie Smith, go right ahead. 

9. Familiarize Yourself with Some of Shakespeare’s Works

Shakespeare introduced 1,700 new words into the English language, and many of the cliches we use today in everyday conversation find their origin in his works. “Dead as a doornail” is from Henry IV. 

And many later writers drew source material from Shakespeare, whether they meant to for effect, or whether they did so unknowingly. 

Just look at all the common phrases we may say without citing their true creator:

Because of his influence on language and later writers, familiarizing yourself with Shakespeare will enable you to spot references and nods to the great bard as you read later works, hence adding depths of meaning to the works. 

Now, if you’re anything like I was, you’re a bit daunted by the task of reading Shakespeare. His writing is complex, poetic, and old. To allay your concerns, check out this guide by Oxford on how to read Shakespeare for pleasure . 

According to Rewire the West , these are the five best plays for beginners: 

• Romeo and Juliet
• Much Ado About Nothing
• A Midsummer’s Night Dream 

The author of the article also recommends watching the plays before reading them, since Shakespeare’s plays weren’t written to be read. They were written for the stage. 

Many film adaptations are available online. Of course, if it’s possible, attending live plays is the best way to experience Shakespeare, and in doing so you also support local theater groups. 

Pro Tip: Consider reading the King James Bible as well. The Bible had a tremendous amount of influence on the poets, novelists, playwrights of the English literary tradition.

10. Read Through the Great Works of English Literature 

Step 10 is the longest and most challenging step in the journey towards acquiring a deep and wide foundation in English Literature. It’s where you become well-read in English literature.

It’s time to put your critical thinking powers and reading skills to the test and listen to that advice English teachers love to give to the new student: “read everything!”. 

Of course, by everything they mean the great works of English literature, the canonical works . But this advice spawns two questions — what are the greatest works and in what order should I read them?

Different scholars have different answers to the question. 

A retired Phd who’s fed up with structure from their days in academia might tell you to just follow your curiosity or to find a reputable list online of the greatest novels ever written and read those in no specific order.  

Others, like Jason Slavin (M.A. in English Lit), might recommend a more systematic, chronological approach. The key, however, is to read as much as you can, and to fashion a reading program that will keep you motivated.

Because every self-learner is different, I’ve listed a few reading strategies for the beginner in English Lit:

• Chronological Approach: Grab the Norton Anthology of English Literature and read through it from start to finish. 
• Lite Chronological Approach: Use Susan Wise Bauer’s Novel reading list from her book The Well Educated Mind, reading one genre chronologically before starting the next genre. Note some are outside of the English tradition, like Dostoevsky.
• Oxford Approach: Read the works in the order in which Oxford English Literature students read them. 
• Curiosity-Dominant Approach: Design your own reading list based on other reputable book lists and your interests, and then read within the confines of that list, but in no particular order. 

I’ll go over each of these reading strategies more in-depth to help you decide which is right for your goals and learning style. 

Because this is such a long goal, it can help to read some of your books using audiobooks. This way you can listen to them as you drive, commute, or go about your chores.

Sign up for Audible’s 30-day free trial to get a free audiobook.

The Chronological Reading Approach 

In this strategy you start in the middle ages and work your way through the ages to the present day. By doing so, you’re able to trace the thematic and technical development of English Literature. 

This is what Jason Slavin recommends in his response to self-learning English Lit: 

You also get the benefit of reading contemporaries alongside each other. You spot parallels in their narrative techniques and see references they make about one another, both of which provide useful material for literary essays and book reviews. 

You’ll find a lot of people on Quora recommending the same approach. Many of them also tell you to get a copy of the Norton Anthology of English Literature , which is a staple in English classes around the world. 

This 3,192 page tome is a collection of the greatest works of English Literature and spans from Beowulf to the 21st century. 

It includes many of the most renowned essays, poems, plays, novels, and short fiction in the English language and arranges them by authors in chronological order according to when they were born. Each time period (Middle Ages, Romantic Period, etc.) and author have their own introductions. 

According to Slavin, if you read through this entire backbreaking book and followed his procedure of creating a booklet of synopses for each time period, section, and major work, you’d be well-suited for a Phd program in English Lit. 

The Lite Chronological Approach (And For One Literary Genre at a Time)

Feeling that I, an economics major, missed out on some liberal arts benefits in my college education, I read the Well Educated Mind , A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had.

In the Book, Susan Wise Bauer, English Instructor and Author, teaches you how to intelligently read five of the major literary genres: history, novels, autobiography, poems, and drama, each of which requires a distinct reading approach. 

She also provides reading lists for each of the literary genres , which are in chronological order. If you took this approach, you could work through 31 of the most influential novels of all time, then tackle the poems, then the dramas, and then the autobiographies.

I should note that not all of the works are written by native English-speaking authors, so if you want a strictly English Literature education, perhaps go with the Norton Anthology approach. 

But, as a self-educator, you have freedom. And reading a few writers from outside of English-speaking countries will broaden your perspective and lend you a bit of worldliness, and perhaps some wanderlust. Plus, the best works of Tolstoy, Flaubert, and others are well translated into English.   

The Oxford Approach

Oxford’s English department has a reputation for assigning a brutal amount of reading to their undergraduate students, as if they’re testing their dedication to the English Language. 

In his video on how to get an English Lit Oxford Education, Benjamin Mcevoy states that they nearly beat the love of literature out of him for good — he didn’t read a book for an entire year after graduating. 

That said, as an autodidact, you get to determine your own time frame for your studies. There are only self-imposed deadlines for readings. So there’s no need to torture yourself, unless you’d like to.

If you want to study English with the curriculum of an Oxford student, check out his video and follow his reading plan:

As a preview, you’ll be reading the greatest English-language writers from the following eras: 

• Modern: 1984, Heart of Darkness, Brave New World, etc. 
• Old English: Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon, The Riddles, etc. 
• Middle English: The Canterbury Tales, Sir Gaiwan the Green Knight, etc. 
• Renaissance: Utopia, Doctor Faustus, Essays of Sir Francis Bacon, etc.
• Restoration: Paradise Lost, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Gulliver’s Travels
• Romantic: Poems by Wordsworth, Blake, Keats, Shelley – Pride & Prejudice 

He also recommends some books on the English language and literary theory. This is a great option for someone who often feels doubt about their method of learning and wants to therefore follow one designed by a prestigious institution so they have confidence and stick with their self-directed studies.  

The Curiosity-Dominant Approach 

If you work best with as few rules as possible, consider using what I’ll call the curiosity-dominant approach, where you create a list of the greatest works you want to read, and then read them in no particular order, letting your curiosity pick what you read next. 

That way, if you were planning to read Great Expectations next, but you see a video about Thomas Hardy that gets you excited about his work, you have the freedom to alter your course. 

There’s enough structure to keep you from feeling like you’re not making any progress, something I’ve felt before as an autodidact when just reading without a program, but not too much structure that you feel oppressed and ultimately discouraged from the venture because you can’t read what you want to read at the moment.

If you’re going to use this approach, consider going through multiple lists like the greatest plays ever written or The Guardian’s 100 Best Novels Written in English , and selecting about 50-100 of your own to read. Try to get a nice mix of genres, but mostly pick from the ones you enjoy most. 

This will be your reading program for at least a year (unless it’s all short stories and poems), and after finishing the list you’ll have transformed into quite the literary butterfly. 

When you read classic novels, slowing down will help you get more out of them. Consider checking out my article on my 3-phase approach for deep reading classic novels to learn how to read novels for better retention, understanding, and intellectual development.

11. Supplement Your Readings with Other Online Resources

As you’re reading the great works, consider using other resources to enhance your understanding of each work, to gain insight into the historical and cultural context in which it was produced, or simply to learn something new in the world of literature. 

Sometimes this means listening to a YouTube video or reading an article interpreting an especially confusing novel that you just slammed down onto the floor in a fit of fury. 

Other times it involves reading numerous literary essays to fuel your own critical thinking about one of your favorite works. It might mean watching a writer give a lecture or partake in an interview. 

Typically, the more a work thrills or confuses you the more you’ll want to consult outside sources about that work and the author who wrote it. 

Below are some resources to use to help you get more out of your self-directed readings and learn more about English Literature: 

• CliffNotes & SparkNotes: These websites provide helpful plot summaries and interpretations of famous works of literature. In middle school, when my love for reading had been briefly taken from me, I frequented these sites before exams. 
• Literary Podcasts: There are many literary podcasts that feature intelligent people discussing great works of English literature. A few to check out are the On the Road with Penguin Classics Podcast and The Great Books Podcast . 
• Online Courses: There are plenty of online courses that can give you a scholarly perspective on the work you’re reading or help you learn about some topic ostensibly disconnected from your current read, like this Udemy course on Edgar Allen Poe . 
• YouTube Channels: Check out what booktubers have to say about the work you’re reading. 

Reading a lot of literature written hundreds of years ago is rewarding but can at times be pretty tiresome, so it’s nice to have some other learning devices to fall back on when you want to be a bit more passive in your studies, like after a long day’s work. 

Hearing what other people have to say about a novel or poem will also inform your own opinion and broaden your perspective.  

I write more about the benefits of secondary literature in my article One Piece of Bad Advice Preventing You From Enjoying the Classics .

12. Follow Your Curiosity  

As you get deeper into your studies, it’s crucial that you let curiosity be your main guide.

With a foundation in English Literature, you can start to focus on more specific topics that capture your interest. Perhaps that means taking a course on The Life and Works of Jane Austen , or one on something a bit more philosophical like Postcolonial Literary Theory . 

Whatever pulls at your attention should get heavy consideration as you go about your studies. Following your curiosity is the best way to stay motivated as a self-taught scholar. 

So, You Read a Lot of English Literature — Now What? 

As you increase your exposure to great works, improve your critical thinking skills, and heighten your sensitivity to language, you’ll no doubt find yourself more masterful in the art of expression. 

You’ll find poetic sentences flowing form your mouth at the bar, or from your pen in an email to a colleague. 

You might also start to think about pursuing new career paths where you can use and cultivate these literary talents. 

For example, you might find yourself desirous of attending a graduate program in English, or self educating yourself in another subject.

If so, check out the self-education roadmaps part of the website to find guides for sociology, philosophy, history, and other related fields.

Or perhaps you’ll want to become a writer. If so, start writing in whatever genre you find most heart-wrenchingly satisfying.

Maybe you’ll feel the urge to become an editor or agent who helps bring new great stories and poems into this world. 

Whether or not this self-education in Literature has drawn you to a new career, you’ll have developed communication skills and worldly knowledge that will help you succeed in your current profession and live a deeper, richer, more thoughtful life. 

After graduating college with an econ degree I realized I was still anything but well-educated. Over the last 4 years, I've been trying to fix that, autodidact-mode — by reading books and engaging in self-directed study across multiple subjects. On this blog, my goal is to share my learnings and help others get a well-rounded education outside of school. Education, after all, is a lifelong process, one well worth the investment.

Recent Posts

3 Underrated Benefits of Reading Classic Literature

Why should you read great literature? Check out these three powerful reasons that don't get the attention they deserve.

You must enable JavaScript in order to use this site.

Welcome to Open Library

Read Free Library Books Online

Millions of books available through Controlled Digital Lending

Set a Yearly Reading Goal

Learn how to set a yearly reading goal and track what you read

Keep Track of your Favorite Books

Organize your Books using Lists & the Reading Log

Try the virtual Library Explorer

Digital shelves organized like a physical library

Try Fulltext Search

Find matching results within the text of millions of books

Be an Open Librarian

Dozens of ways you can help improve the library

Volunteer at Open Library

Discover opportunities to improve the library

Send us feedback

Your feedback will help us improve these cards

Trending Books

Preview Book

Classic Books

Books We Love

Recently Returned

Authors Alliance & MIT Press

Browse by Subject

104,095 Books

Science Fiction

18,861 Books

12,410 Books

Biographies

23,865 Books

9,171 Books

19,705 Books

29,246 Books

53,121 Books

2,055,334 Books

50,429 Books

128,343 Books

Mystery and Detective Stories

15,743 Books

2,491 Books

70,005 Books

84,217 Books

Around the Library

 Here's what's happened over the last 28 days. More recent changes .

About the Project

Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. more.

Just like Wikipedia, you can contribute new information or corrections to the catalog. You can browse by subjects , authors or lists members have created. If you love books, why not help build a library?

Latest Blog Posts

• 🎉 2023 Open Library Community Celebration 🎃 - October 30, 2023
• How do patrons prefer to read? - September 14, 2023
• Google Summer of Code 2023: Supercharging Subject Pages - August 25, 2023

Textbook rentals

• Manage your rentals
• Your rental cart
• Return your rental
• Terms & Conditions
• eTextbook rental help

Discover more

• Prime Student
• AWS Educate

Shop by Category

• Computers & Technology
• Business & Money
• Science & Math
• Engineering & Transportation
• Test Prep & Study Guides
• Arts & Photography
• Last 30 days
• Last 90 days
• Coming Soon

New, Used & Rental Textbooks

• Arts & Photography
• Biographies & Memoirs
• Business & Money
• Children's Books
• Christian Books & Bibles
• Comics & Graphic Novels
• Computers & Technology
• Cookbooks, Food & Wine
• Crafts, Hobbies & Home
• Education & Teaching
• Engineering & Transportation
• Health, Fitness & Dieting
• Humor & Entertainment
• LGBTQ+ Books
• Literature & Fiction
• Medical Books
• Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
• Parenting & Relationships
• Politics & Social Sciences
• Religion & Spirituality
• Science & Math
• Science Fiction & Fantasy
• Sports & Outdoors
• Teen & Young Adult
• Test Preparation
• Large Print
• Audible Audiobook
• Printed Access Code
• Spiral-bound
• 4 Stars & Up & Up
• 3 Stars & Up & Up
• 2 Stars & Up & Up
• 1 Star & Up & Up
• Collectible
• All Discounts
• Today's Deals

Shop by category

Top print titles

Top Kindle textbooks

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices