MA English Literature

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
The Department of English has a long and distinguished tradition in research and criticism. Previous professors have included L C Knights, Frank Kermode, Christopher Ricks, Henry Gifford, Pat Rogers, Charles Tomlinson and John Burrow. With one of the highest ratios of applications per place at undergraduate level, the English Department is extremely popular and is highly recognised for its achievements - receiving a 5 in the last RAE research exercise.
The Department is housed in a converted Victorian villa, in the heart of the beautiful city of Bristol and offers excellent support for postgraduate work at both MA and PhD levels to a lively and diverse graduate community.

MA ENGLISH LITERATURE
This MA is designed to develop your advanced critical and analytical skills within the context of a range of approaches to the study of literature and is ideal for those considering PhD research and for those wishing to develop their knowledge of English literature beyond undergraduate level. 'Pathways' providing a focused programme of study are offered in one of four areas of English literature:

+ Middle English
+ Shakespeare and English Literature
+ Romanticism
+ Modern and Contemporary Poetry

A wide range of optional units can be chosen for study alongside these pathways, including courses in writing poetry, biography, and review writing.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Semester 1
i) Introduction to Literary Research (mandatory core unit)
ii) Pathway Unit
Semester 2
i) Pathway Unit
ii) Second Pathway Unit or Optional Unit (s)
Summer
Dissertation - 15,000 words maximum

Pathway Units
The list of available units varies year to year; the following is a representative sample:
~ Middle English: Core Texts
~ Ricardian Literature
~ Hamlet: Text and Rewritings
~ Shakespeare and Theories of Influence
~ Romantic Genres, Language and Aesthetics
~ Romantic Writers/Romantic Bodies
~ Poetry 1900-1945
~ Poetry 1945-Present

Optional units
~ Arthurian Literature in the Middle Ages
~ Charles Dickens
~ Old English
~ Heroes, Heroines and Villians in English Poetry: Milton to Pope
~ Writing Reviews
~ Making It New: Classical Poetry in English
~ Medieval English Drama
~ Shakespearean Tragedy
~ Victorian Poetry: Belief, Doubt and Dissent
~ Women and Writing
~ Writing Biography
~ Writing Poetry
~ Writing for Art

APPLICATIONS
The Department receives in the range of 100 applications per year for the 30 available places on the MA programme. Application forms can be downloaded from the following website:
http://www.bris.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/2008/intro/8
All applicants are required to submit a sample of written work (up to 3,000 words) on an academic topic relevant to the course along with the application form.

OPEN DAYS
The School of Humanities arranges an Open Day for students interested in learning more about the MA programmes offered. Details of next year’s event will be posted on the website in due course.

SCHOLARSHIPS
The Faculty of Arts has designated scholarships for postgraduate applicants. Details of available opportunities will be posted on this website:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/scholarships.html

BRISTOL
England's second city until the Industrial Revolution, Bristol has a wealth of architectural and cultural history. More recently, it has become the cultural hub of the South West of England, and has been designated by the government one of the UK's five 'Centres of Cultural Excellence'. There is an international airport, and London, Oxford and Cardiff are all within easy reach.

PENGUIN ARCHIVE PROJECT
The Department and School has been awarded a grant of some £750,000 for a four-year project to study and create an online catalogue of the University's Penguin Archive. Various events will arise out of this, from academic conferences to 'Penguin Days' for the general public. A substantial exhibition is planned to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Penguin Books and the centenary of the University of Bristol IN 2009.