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. 

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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: Myths for Beginners

This course will consider classical mythology for beginners, helping to provide and understanding of references built into everyday British language and literature. Wondering where we get the names for the planets of our solar system or the names of the days of our week? Confused by which gods were Greek and which were Roman and weren't some of them both? Our tutor will answer all these questions. We will discuss the gods, goddesses and planets associated with Greek and Roman mythology, with a brief look at Norse myths. This course is ideal for those with a passion for reading literature and with an interest in mythology. Everyone is welcome!
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 17/01/2024 -
Wed 13/03/2024
Times:
10:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
The Priory (Ware)
High Street
Ware
SG12 9AL
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00012267
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

Literature: Six Classic Novels You Can Read in a Week

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 short classic novel, reading and discussing key passages. The selected novels are in chronological order, from the 17th century to modern times. We begin with Oroonoko and end with The Ballad of the Sad Café. We’ll be able to 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.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 17/01/2024 -
Wed 28/02/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Wesley Hall (Barnet)
High Barnet Methodist Church
9 Stapylton Road
Barnet
EN5 4JJ
Tutor:
Brandon Robshaw
Course code:
Q00012619
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

Literature: English & European Detective Fiction in the Twentieth Century

This course will explore the origins of detective fiction in Britain and Europe in the twentieth century, charting the Golden Age of British Detective Fiction and post-war European developments in the genre. Our main texts will be: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie, Decline of the English Murder - George Orwell, The Day of the Owl - Leonardo Sciascia, Have Mercy On Us All - Fred Vargas and A Murder of Quality - John Le Carre.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 18/01/2024 -
Thu 28/03/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00010558
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: Beginning Old English

This course will introduce you to the language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons, the origin of the language which we speak every day. Old English is a fascinating and intriguing language. The course provides you with the opportunity to try out speaking, reading and translating Old English, and helps you to understand the grammar and vocabulary of the language. We will look at prose, poetry and manuscripts, and the runic alphabet. You don’t need any prior knowledge of Old English to join this course.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 22/01/2024 -
Mon 26/02/2024
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
6 sessions
Tutor:
Roberta Dewa
Course code:
Q00012744
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
2 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Literature: Advanced Portraits of Society in the Novel: 1945 -1947; The Impacts of War?

Discuss four novels published at the end of the second world war. Henry Green's Loving was published in 1945.  Barbara Euphon Todd’s, Miss Ranskill comes Home, was published in 1946. The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton, and Elizabeth Taylor's A View of the Harbour were both published in 1947. Each novel deals with war, but is it the backdrop, or the foreground? Do they show us how war is experienced by those not directly involved in the battles?
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 22/01/2024 -
Mon 18/03/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00012331
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Literature: Advanced Portraits of Society in the Novel: 1945 -1947; The Impacts of War?

Discuss four novels published at the end of the second world war. Henry Green's Loving was published in 1945.  Barbara Euphon Todd’s, Miss Ranskill comes Home, was published in 1946. The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton, and Elizabeth Taylor's A View of the Harbour were both published in 1947. Each novel deals with war, but is it the backdrop, or the foreground? Do they show us how war is experienced by those not directly involved in the battles?
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 23/01/2024 -
Tue 19/03/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00012332
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Literature: Exploring Old English Poetry

This course will explore the characteristics of Old English poetry, focusing especially on the group of poems known as the Old English Elegies. It will provide students with skills in reading, translating and interpreting Old English poetry, and investigate the role of the editor in creating poems on the page. We will look at the poetry in manuscript and in translation, as well as attempting translation of certain passages. This course is suitable for improvers and those who have taken Beginning Old English, and some prior knowledge of Old English is necessary.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 24/01/2024 -
Wed 28/02/2024
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
6 sessions
Tutor:
Roberta Dewa
Course code:
Q00012916
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: Literature of the Historical Moment

The course will involve the analysis and discussion of a range of contemporary and classical texts (fiction, poetry and drama) in order to identify the techniques used by their authors and situate the texts in relation to the time and place in which they were produced. The chosen texts will offer the opportunity to explore the different ways in which writers seek to represent a contemporary or historical moment. Each could be said to be a ‘state of the nation’ work.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 24/01/2024 -
Wed 03/04/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Angel Centre (Tonbridge)
Angel Lane
Tonbridge
TN9 1SF
Tutor:
Elizabeth Allen
Course code:
Q00013114
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Literature: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

This short course explores Robert Noon (also known as Robert Tressell's) iconic text 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'. This semi-autiobiographical work is considered by many to be a classic text in the history of British Socialism. This short course takes a detailed look at the text and its context to discuss its relevance today. This course is suitable for beginners and anyone interested in literature, socialism and the published word.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 02/02/2024 -
Fri 09/02/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Charing Cross Centre
17-19 St John Maddermarket
Norwich
Norfolk
NR2 1DN
Tutor:
Chad Goodwin
Course code:
Q00011284
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

Literature: George Orwell and Burmese Days

Study of George Orwell’s early novel “Burmese Days” In the autumn of 1922 a young man sailed from Birkenhead to Rangoon. He was nineteen years old and about to join the Indian Imperial Police. His name was Eric Blair. Twelve years later Harper Brothers in New York published a novel called Burmese Days. No one in England had been keen to publish the novel. Its author was a little-known man called George Orwell. In the years that followed, Burmese Days turned out to have many publishers and many readers. In this course we shall consider how Eric Blair's five years of colonial service lent itself to the creation of George Orwell and why Burmese Days, which had such an unpromising beginning, is of perhaps more interest to us than it was to the reader of 1934. With Guest Speaker Virginia Gay.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 02/02/2024 -
Fri 09/02/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Charing Cross Centre
17-19 St John Maddermarket
Norwich
Norfolk
NR2 1DN
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00012395
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20