The Department of English offers a variety of subjects in the literatures of Britain, Australia, America, and Asia and in a range of related areas.
In first year students are introduced to the study of English through a choice of subject sequences. Each sequence has a different focus - the study of English literature, cinema studies, the study of literary semiotics and comparative literature, and the study of drama and performance. Each however aims to introduce students to a variety of modes of reading and to a number of ways of speaking and writing about what they read. Each provides an introduction to the historical and contemporary study of literature and to aspects of critical theory.
The majority of English students follow the literature sequence through both semesters. However, at Clayton, the `Text and context' sequence, provided by the Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, and the `Language and places of performance' sequence, provided by the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies, may also lead into later-year English subjects. Students at Clayton should note that these CLS and DTS subjects are recommended as usefully supplementing English literature subjects in the first year and that one of these sequences may be taken alongside the ENH subjects. At Caulfield, a sequence in cinema studies may be taken along with the English literature subjects.
Second and third-year subjects in English literature build on this foundation. There are subjects which introduce students to the literature and culture of different historical periods from Anglo-Saxon to the present, and further subjects which allow students to specialize in these areas. Related subjects are offered in the following fields: Australian studies, American studies, the theory and practice of children's literature, critical theory, feminist theory and women's writing, postcolonial theory and literature, the languages of literature, literary and visual semiotics and performance studies, cinema studies, creative writing and professional writing. Students may select from these areas to develop their major in English.
Students will find the expectations of the department outlined in subject handbooks as they proceed through the degree.
The department provides consultation and advice on choice of subjects at first, second, third and fourth-year levels to ensure that students choose suitable and coherent subject sequences.
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