Explore literature through the ages.

We've hand-picked a variety of English literature courses for you to choose from. Whether you are interested in twenty-first-century literature and culture, the tales of Babylon, or historical topics such as race and gender, we have a broad selection of literature that’s sure to suit a wide variety of tastes and interests.  

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You might be a newcomer to the world of literature and the great works of authors past and present, or perhaps you consider yourself somewhat of an expert. Whichever group you fall into, our friendly classes are the perfect environment to develop your skills and knowledge. Building on a curiosity or passion is what we do best! 

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Whether you prefer online learning from the comfort of your own home, or you want to attend an in-person class in your local community, we have a huge amount of flexibility to suit how you learn best. This means that you can pick the environment that’s right for you, giving you that piece of mind that you can learn in a place that you feel comfortable with. 

The support you’ll receive 

Our dedicated tutors will guide you through the different genres and time periods in English literature, helping you to develop your critical reading and analysis skills - perfect if you're a beginner.   

Our learning experience is one of the things that sets us apart, with many of our learners going on to achieve incredible things. You’ll learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have.  

Start your journey today and learn all about the works of Agatha Christie, Shakespeare and many, many more.  

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Literature: British Short Stories from 1950 to the Present

This 5 week course will introduce and assess the short stories of five British authors. These authors and the short stories we will discuss together are: Remember This - Graham Swift. The Universal Story - Ali Smith. Moonlit Landscape with Bridge - Zadie Smith. The Rock of Crack as Big as the Ritz - Will Self. Later, His Ghost - Sarah Hall. In these works, we will analyse themes and styles, specific to each text, but equally we will develop an understanding of those themes demonstrated in common. Moreover, you will discuss the forms and potentialities of the short story genre, and seek to identify innovations in the authors’ different approaches. The course will also seek to reflect how these stories reflect the changing face of Britain post 1950.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 09/02/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00012030
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Literature: You Must Read These Books - Twentieth Century European Literature

This 10 week course will chart recent developments in European literature. We will explore 5 novels. These are: HhhH – Laurent Binet. Homeland - Walter Kempowski. Katalin Street - Magda Szabo. The Physics of Sorrow - Georgi Gospodinov. Rituals - Cees Nooteboom. Ranging widely from France to Bulgaria, the course will discover how the fallout from the Second World War exerts influence over issues such as: • How to define history. • How to reformulate moralities. • How to negotiate silence and guilt. • How to establish an identity in a mutable world or worlds. These novels are essential reads in order to understand the shape of modern European fiction, and will encourage you to read more deeply in non-British literature.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 22/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00012032
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: Modern Irish Literature - A Selection

This course offers learners the opportunity to analyse literature written in English within a given theme or time-frame.  Learners will develop their analytical and discussion skills, and their knowledge of literary context and terminology. This is an advanced course for students with experience and skills in this subject, and with an enthusiasm for literature! We will be covering a range of authors, and discussing prose fiction and poetry.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 22/03/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Newcastle Quaker Meeting House (Newcastl
West Avenue
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 4ES
Tutor:
Clare Jackson
Course code:
Q00012354
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Foreign Languages: Modern Greek for Improvers (lower intermediate)

Can you take part in short conversations in Greek? This online course will expand the Greek you have already learnt and increase your confidence in using the language to communicate with the locals when in Greece or Cyprus. It will also give you a further insight into the Greek lifestyle and culture. The course is taught by a well-qualified and experienced native speaker with many years’ teaching experience. Learning a foreign language for holiday or leisure is a great way to keep your brain active, explore a different culture, meet people with a common interest, increase your confidence and enhance your wellbeing. Take advantage of this unique opportunity today.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 22/03/2024
Times:
2:15pm - 4:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Eleni Vezyri
Course code:
Q00012724
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Literature: Much Ado About Shakespeare - Henry V

If you find Shakespeare daunting or wonder what all the fuss is about, or if you are a devotee who wants to deepen your enjoyment of his work this course is for you. An opportunity to look in depth at one play, Henry V, by reading, discussing and watching extracts of performances. It tells the story of the great (if short-lived) English victory in France. Adapted as a great shout of patriotism by Olivier in his wartime film, Shakespeare's text is more balanced. His questioning of the acceptable conduct of war make it especially topical today.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 22/03/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Nottingham Mechanics (Nottingham)
3 North Sherwood Street
Nottingham
NG1 4EZ
Tutor:
Hazel Salisbury
Course code:
Q00012910
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Literature: I Must Go Down to the Sea - Twentieth Century British Seaside Literature

This five week course will discover the richness of British literature associated with the sea, the coastline and the towns and villages in which people live and visit. We will discuss: • the notion of Britain as a sceptred or septic isle. • the pleasure principle of the seaside. • coastal resorts as dystopias. • the strange allure of the sea from childhood. We will encounter writers and extracts from their works including: Graham Greene, Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier, John Osborne, Bram Stoker, George Mackay-Brown, Virginia Woolf, Dylan Thomas, Philip Larkin and others. There is no requirement to buy texts for this course and the extracts will be supplied on Canvas.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 13/01/2024 -
Sat 10/02/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00012027
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Literature: Art & Literature 1630-1660

This course will explore the period leading up to the English Civil War, the War itself, and the Protectorate, examining how art and literature reflected these years. If you are a fan war literature, this course was designed for you. Feel free to contribute to the interesting discussions that will take place. All thoughts and opinions welcome.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 26/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00010565
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: Selected Plays of Jez Butterworth

Plays of Jez Butterworth will be studied, read and workshopped. The group will discuss his stage devices and how his plays might be produced. We shall look at aspects of how he creates characters and tells epic stories on stage that resonate with current modern theatre audiences. Many of his plays use ingredients of myth and folklore and it will be considered how Butterworth uses these in order to create fresh images of contemporary U.K. life and society. Over eight weeks, two to three plays will be discussed and workshopped to appreciate the various theatrical devices that Butterworth often uses.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 12/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
The Greenleaf Centre (Walthamstow)
67-69 Greenleaf Road
Walthamstow
E17 6QP
Tutor:
Thomas Crowe
Course code:
Q00012144
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

Literature: A Feast of Fiction 1

Reading short texts is an excellent introduction to the works of some of the greatest writers of the western canon. Each week we focus on a classic work of fiction, reading and discussing key passages. The texts include short stories, novellas and novels and span over two centuries, from the 18th century to modern times. We begin with a selection of classic ghost stories and end with Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go. We’ll share and debate interpretations, sharpen our critical and appreciative faculties, understand what fiction can tell us about the society and culture that produced it, and, hopefully, be inspired to read other works by the writers featured on the course.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 26/03/2024
Times:
3:30pm - 5:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Redbridge Institute of Adult Education (
Gaysham Avenue
Gants Hill
Ilford
IG2 6TD
Tutor:
Brandon Robshaw
Course code:
Q00012124
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.00

Literature: Shakespeare's Women

Shakespeare “invented the human as we continue to know it” (Professor Harold Bloom) This course delves into Shakespeare's pioneering portrayal of female characters performed by boys and men, redefining human nature according to Professor Harold Bloom. Shakespeare's innovation in crafting these roles fundamentally shaped our understanding of the human experience, creating timeless archetypes and challenging traditional gender perceptions. By exploring these characters, we uncover the intricate layers of humanity Shakespeare masterfully constructed, illustrating his profound impact on our perception of gender, identity, and the complexities of the human condition. All are welcome to join this fascinating course.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 13/02/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
URC (Danbury)
Little Baddow Road
Danbury
CM3 4NS
Tutor:
Ronald Marks
Course code:
Q00012948
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00