Introduction to Global Literature
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- Start Date: 20 Sep 2025End Date: 20 Sep 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:30 - 13:30In PersonFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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What is the course about?
This in-college taster session will give you a flavour of what ‘global literature’ is and what it’s like to read it; how and why we read literary works across cultures; and an introduction to some major works of the literature. You’ll get the chance to read literary texts from across the world, and a sense of how exhilarating it can be to read literature in this way, making connections between texts and ideas far beyond national borders. Through tutor presentations, reading short passages, and group discussions, this taster session will give you an idea of what it’s like to study global literature at City Lit.
What will we cover?
We’ll read excerpts from works of global literature together (in English and/or in English translation from other languages).
We’ll also discuss questions such as:
• What is global literature, and why read it?
• What kinds of texts count as ‘global literature’ (and who decides)?
• How does ‘global literature’ differ from other lenses for reading and understanding literature, such as postcolonial literature or comparative literature?
• How do we read literary texts across cultures and national borders, and in translation?
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Begin to understand what global literature is, and some of the debates around how it is defined
- Have an encounter with major works of global literature, and begin to explore how we can read and interpret them
- Find out about topics that you may be interested in for further study.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course and no previous experience or knowledge is necessary. Anyone with an interest in global literature is welcome.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You’ll be taught through a mixture of tutor presentations, individual reading of texts, small group work and larger group discussions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All materials will be provided by the tutor.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Rebecca Jones will be teaching a 6 week course, HLT365 Contemporary Global, Literature from 7 Nov to 12 December 2025. For other Literature courses please look at our website at www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture and Writing/Literature.
Rebecca Jones is a researcher and lecturer in African literature, world literatures and travel writing. She has a PhD from the University of Birmingham, where she subsequently worked as a Lecturer, and is now an Honorary Research Fellow at Birmingham. Her first book, At the Crossroads: Nigerian Travel Writing and Literary Culture in Yoruba and English was published in 2019. She is an editor of the literary travel writing journal Fortunate Traveller. She works as a researcher at a charity and also runs creative journalling workshops for mothers.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.