literature
Hocbigg - Literature
Path to a free self-taught education in Literature!
Contents
Summary
This roadmap provides a structured, self-paced curriculum equivalent to a 4-year undergraduate degree in Literature, condensed into 1–2 years of study at approximately 20 hours per week.
Organization
- Intro: Builds foundational skills in reading, writing, and basic literary concepts. Equivalent to first-year fundamentals.
- Core: Covers essential surveys of literature, genres, and analytical methods. Equivalent to second- and third-year breadth.
- Advanced: Offers depth through elective subjects and 2–4 specialization tracks for focused expertise.
- British and Commonwealth Literature – Focuses on literature from the UK and former colonies, emphasizing historical and postcolonial perspectives.
- American Literature – Explores U.S. literary traditions, including regional, ethnic, and modern developments.
- World and Comparative Literature – Examines global texts in translation, cross-cultural themes, and comparative methods.
- Literary Theory and Criticism – Delves into theoretical frameworks, from formalism to postmodernism, for advanced interpretation.
Duration. 1–2 years at ~20 hours/week, depending on background and pace. Courses are sequenced to avoid cognitive overload; many are self-paced.
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:
- Discord servers:
- 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
Orientation to literature as a discipline, fundamental reading/writing skills, and basic terminology.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Literary Studies | To understand basic concepts, genres, and analytical tools essential for literary analysis. | An Introduction to Literary Studies by Mario Klarer (or Literary Theory: An Introduction by Terry Eagleton) | Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature & Introduction to Theory of Literature |
| Academic Writing and Research in Literature | To develop skills in structuring arguments, research, and writing critical essays in literature. | The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White (or They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein). | Writing in English at University & Academic English: Writing |
Core
Broad surveys of literary history, major works, and analytical tools. Subjects build sequentially but allow some parallelism after fundamentals.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey of Western Literature I (Ancient to Medieval) | To explore foundational texts and historical contexts from ancient epics to medieval literature. | The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 1 | Great Books 101: Ancient to Medieval & Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature |
| Survey of Western Literature II (Renaissance to Enlightenment) | To examine the evolution of humanism, drama, and the novel during cultural shifts in Europe. | The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 1 (or Public domain texts from Project Gutenberg). | Renaissance Literature |
| Survey of Western Literature III (Romanticism to Modernism) | To analyze romantic, realist, and modernist movements influenced by social changes. | The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 2 (or Public domain texts from Project Gutenberg). | The Romantics |
| Introduction to Non-Western Literature | To appreciate diverse global traditions and themes like colonialism beyond Western canon. | The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume F (or Public domain translations from Project Gutenberg). | Modern Masterpieces of World Literature |
| Literary Genres and Forms | To master different forms and structures in poetry, fiction, and drama for deeper interpretation. | Anatomy of Criticism by Northrop Frye (or PDFs online). | The Norton Introduction to Literature by Kelly J. Mays (or How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster) |
| Introduction to Literary Theory | To learn fundamental theoretical frameworks for interpreting texts. | Literary Theory: An Introduction by Terry Eagleton | Introduction to Theory of Literature |
Advanced
Elective depth and specialization. Complete 4–6 subjects, including at least 2–3 from one track. Electives can be drawn from other tracks for breadth.
General Electives
(Available to all tracks; choose 1–2)
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature and Society | To understand how literature reflects and influences social issues like class and gender. | Literature and Society: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction by Pamela J. Annas | |
| Creative Writing Fundamentals | To build practical skills in crafting narratives and receiving feedback. | On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (or Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott). | Start Writing Fiction (Prerequisites: Academic Writing and Research in Literature; Literary Genres and Forms) |
British and Commonwealth Literature
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early British Literature | To study foundational English texts from Anglo-Saxon to Shakespeare. | The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume A | |
| 19th–20th Century British Literature | To explore romanticism, Victorian era, and modernism in British context. | The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume E and F | |
| Commonwealth and Postcolonial Literature | To examine literature from former colonies addressing identity and resistance. | A Concise Companion to Postcolonial Literature edited by Shirley Chew and David Richards. | Postcolonial Literature |
American Literature
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early American Literature | To investigate colonial and early national literature shaping American identity. | The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume A (or public domain texts from Project Gutenberg). | American Literature |
| 19th–20th Century American Literature | To analyze realism, modernism, and cultural movements like Harlem Renaissance. | The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume C (or public domain texts from Project Gutenberg). | The American Renaissance: Classic Literature of the 19th Century |
| Contemporary American Literature | To engage with post-WWII multiculturalism and postmodernism in U.S. literature. | Contemporary American Literature by George Perkins and Barbara Perkins. | The American Novel Since 1945 |
World and Comparative Literature
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| African and Middle Eastern Literature | To explore themes of colonialism and identity in African and Middle Eastern texts. | The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volumes D and E | |
| Asian and Latin American Literature | To study epic traditions and magical realism in Asian and Latin American contexts. | The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume F | |
| Comparative Themes in Global Literature | To compare global motifs and understand translation in world literature. | The Routledge Companion to Global Comparative Literature edited by Zhang Longxi and Omid Azadibougar. | Masterpieces of World Literature |
Literary Theory and Criticism
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Literary Theory | To delve into complex theories like post-structuralism for advanced analysis. | Literary Theory: The Basics by Hans Bertens | |
| Feminist and Gender Studies in Literature | To critically examine gender representations and intersectionality in literature. | Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler (or PDFs of key texts online). | Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies |
| Cultural and Postcolonial Theory | To apply theories of hybridity and subaltern studies to global texts. | A Concise Companion to Postcolonial Literature edited by Shirley Chew and David Richards. | Postcolonial Literature |
Congratulations
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor’s degree in Literature. Congratulations!