Overview:

The English Language and Literature BA (Hons) develops an understanding of how language works alongside the study of literary texts. The course brings together analytical approaches to language and literature, helping students examine how texts communicate ideas, reflect contexts, and shape meaning. At the University of Sheffield, this foundation-level pathway provides an academic basis for further study in English.

What You'll Learn:

• Core approaches to analysing English language, including how words, sentences, structures, and styles create meaning.

• The study of literary texts across different forms, genres, and contexts.

• Methods for interpreting texts critically, with attention to language, structure, themes, and representation.

• The relationship between literary works and the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they are produced and read.

• Academic skills relevant to the study of English, including reading, research, discussion, interpretation, and written analysis.

• Ways of comparing different texts and perspectives to develop a more nuanced understanding of language and literature.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to apply appropriate concepts and methods when analysing language and literary texts. They will be able to identify and explain how linguistic and literary features contribute to meaning, while considering the wider contexts that influence interpretation. Students will also develop the ability to construct clear, evidence-based arguments and communicate their ideas effectively in academic writing and discussion. Through close reading and critical inquiry, they will be better prepared to evaluate different interpretations, make informed comparisons between texts, and engage independently with questions surrounding English language and literature.