english-studies
Hocbigg - English studies
Path to a free self-taught education in English studies!
Contents
Summary
The curriculum is a complete education in English studies using online materials. It is designed to provide a well-rounded foundation equivalent to a 4-year undergraduate program, focusing on literature analysis, historical contexts, writing, linguistic principles, and critical theory.
Organization
The curriculum is divided as follows:
- Intro English: Orientation and fundamentals to test fit and build essential study habits like note-taking (e.g., Cornell method), spaced repetition (e.g., Anki app), and peer discussion via forums.
- Core English: Roughly the first three years of undergraduate study; required foundational topics for the field, including surveys, theory, and key genres.
- Advanced English: Final-year electives; choose one concentration to go deeper (e.g., British Literature, American Literature, Creative Writing, or Linguistics).
- Final Project: A capstone project to consolidate, validate, and showcase knowledge; peer-review ready via platforms like Reddit’s r/literature or academic forums.
Duration. 1–2 years at ~20 hours/week, sustainable with built-in flexibility. For 1 year: 4 phases (~3 months each). For 2 years: 8 semesters (~6 months each, with breaks). Sequence logically, with clear prerequisites.
Note: When there are courses or books that don’t fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings or extras/other_curricula.
Process. Students can work through the curriculum alone or in groups, in order or out of order.
- We recommend doing all courses in Core, only skipping a course when you are certain that you’ve already learned the material previously.
- For simplicity, we recommend working through courses (especially Core) in order from top to bottom. Some students choose to study multiple courses at a time in order to vary the material they are working on in a day/week.
- The courses in the Advanced section are electives. Choose one track to specialize in and complete all the courses listed under it.
Communities
- Forums:
- Subreddits:
- Other:
- You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
Curriculum
Intro English
Focus on orientation to literature and building writing habits. Test fit with broad reading and basic analysis.
| Courses | Duration | Effort | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Fiction (MIT OCW) | Self-paced (12 weeks suggested) | 6–8 hours/week | None | Key topics: Narrative structure, character development, themes in fiction; assessments: Reading responses, essays; high-quality lectures and assignments; encourage forums for discussion. |
| Start Writing Fiction (Open University) | 8 weeks | 3–5 hours/week | None | Key topics: Character creation, plotting, descriptive writing; assessments: Writing exercises, peer feedback; self-paced, builds study habits like daily journaling. |
| Reading Poetry (MIT OCW) | Self-paced (13 weeks suggested) | 5–7 hours/week | None | Key topics: Meter, form, imagery; assessments: Analysis papers, recitations; optional: Join poetry forums for spaced repetition reviews. |
Core English
Foundational surveys and skills; equivalent to years 1-3. Emphasize balanced theory/practice with essays and projects.
| Courses | Duration | Effort | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature (Harvard) | 6 weeks | 5–7 hours/week | Intro courses | Key topics: Epic traditions, cultural myths (e.g., Gilgamesh, Ramayana); assessments: Quizzes, discussion posts; self-paced, global access. |
| British Literature Survey I (Medieval to 18th Century) | Self-paced (12–14 weeks) | 8–10 hours/week | Intro courses | No suitable MOOC; use textbook: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1 (authoritative, paid; standard for surveys); free alternative: British Literature I Anthology (open textbook with readings and notes). Key topics: Beowulf, Chaucer, Milton; assessments: Self-designed essays, annotations; supplement with Yale’s Milton for depth. |
| American Literature Survey (Yale: The American Novel Since 1945) | Self-paced (26 sessions) | 7–9 hours/week | British Lit Survey | Key topics: Postwar fiction, themes of identity/race (e.g., Morrison, Pynchon); assessments: Essays, exams (provided); video lectures; for pre-1945, supplement with free anthology like American Literature I if needed. |
| Introduction to Theory of Literature (Yale) | Self-paced (26 sessions) | 6–8 hours/week | Surveys | Key topics: Structuralism, psychoanalysis, feminism; assessments: Problem sets (readings), essays; video lectures; authoritative intro. |
| Shakespeare’s Life and Work (Harvard) | 4 weeks | 4–6 hours/week | Theory | Key topics: Biography, performance, key plays; assessments: Quizzes, projects (scene analysis); self-paced; or alternative: Shakespeare’s Hamlet. |
| Modern Poetry (Yale) | Self-paced (25 sessions) | 6–8 hours/week | Poetry intro | Key topics: Eliot, Pound, Harlem Renaissance; assessments: Essays, close readings; video lectures. |
Advanced English
Final-year electives. Define 4 specialization paths: British Literature, American Literature, Creative Writing, Linguistics. Recommend completing all courses in one chosen path for expertise (3–4 courses/path, ~3 months). Prereqs: Core. Select based on interest; e.g., Creative Writing for practice-oriented learners.
British Literature
Deeper historical/genre focus.
| Courses | Duration | Effort | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Literature Survey II (19th-20th Century) | Self-paced (12 weeks) | 8–10 hours/week | Core | No MOOC; textbook: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 2 (authoritative, paid); free: British Literature II Anthology. Key topics: Romanticism, Victorian, Modernism; assessments: Essays. |
| How to Read a Novel (FutureLearn/Edinburgh) | 4 weeks | 4 hours/week | Survey II | Key topics: Plot, character in British novels; assessments: Discussions, reviews. |
| Jane Austen: Myth, Reality and Global Celebrity (FutureLearn/Southampton) | 3 weeks | 3 hours/week | Above | Key topics: Austen’s works, cultural impact; assessments: Quizzes, essays. |
American Literature
Focus on diversity and modernism.
| Courses | Duration | Effort | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Literature II (Post-1945) | Self-paced (12 weeks) | 8–10 hours/week | Core | Extend Yale course; textbook: The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 2 (paid); free: American Literature II. Key topics: Postmodernism, multiculturalism; assessments: Essays. |
| African American Literature (MIT OCW, similar) | Self-paced | 6–8 hours/week | Above | Adapt for focus; key topics: Baldwin, Hurston; assessments: Papers. |
| Contemporary American Poetry (Coursera/Penn, audit free) | 4 weeks | 4–6 hours/week | Above | Key topics: Dickinson to now; assessments: Quizzes, peer essays. |
Creative Writing
Practice-oriented; build portfolio.
| Courses | Duration | Effort | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot (Coursera/Wesleyan, audit free) | 4 weeks | 4–6 hours/week | Core writing | Key topics: Structure, tension; assessments: Writing assignments, peer review. |
| Creative Writing: The Craft of Character (Coursera/Wesleyan) | 4 weeks | 4–6 hours/week | Plot | Key topics: Development, voice; assessments: Stories, feedback. |
| Creative Writing: The Craft of Style (Coursera/Wesleyan) | 4 weeks | 4–6 hours/week | Character | Key topics: Language, revision; assessments: Portfolio pieces. |
Linguistics
Language science intersection with literature.
| Courses | Duration | Effort | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Linguistics (MIT OCW) | Self-paced (14 weeks) | 8–10 hours/week | Core | Key topics: Phonetics, syntax, semantics; assessments: Problem sets, exams. |
| Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics (Coursera/Leiden) | 6 weeks | 5–7 hours/week | Intro Ling | Key topics: Global languages, interviews; assessments: Quizzes, essays. |
| Digital Humanities in Practice (Harvard) | 10 weeks | 4–6 hours/week | Above | Key topics: Text analysis tools; assessments: Projects (e.g., corpus study). |
Final Project
A culminating project to apply and demonstrate knowledge/skills. Scoped for 4–8 weeks, ~10 hours/week, post-Advanced.
Congratulations
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor’s degree in English Studies. Congratulations!