Jane Austen: Literature and Legacy summer course in Oxford, by Lady Margaret Hall University of Oxford.
A moderately successful author in her own lifetime, Jane Austen has since become a global phenomenon: her writings are now read the world over and successive generations of readers have been captivated by her innovative fusion of romance and reality. Why do Austen’s novels continue to resonate so deeply across the centuries? Join this course to explore the stylistic techniques she invented and to discover how Austen’s work continues to influence literature and popular culture today.
This course focuses on the novels of Jane Austen, four published in her lifetime (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma), two published posthumously (Persuasion, Northanger Abbey), and one unfinished fragment (Sanditon). You will examine key themes in Austen’s novels, such as the roles of family and femininity, of class, manners, status and authority, and you will learn about Austen’s pioneering and distinctive narrative techniques, including her use of free indirect discourse, epistolary narration, and natural dialogue. You will consider the various contexts of Austen’s writing (historical, literary, social, political); the reception of her work in numerous prequels and sequels; the critical reassessment of her works encouraged by feminist or postcolonial approaches; and the cultural phenomenon of Austen adaptations in theatre, film, and ‘fan-fiction’, from traditional interpretations to modern re-imaginings such as Bride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary.
This course provides a thorough introduction to the life, works, and influence of Jane Austen, and is perfect for students seeking to develop their knowledge of this popular author and their skills of literary analysis.
LMH Summer Programmes are designed and delivered by experienced academics from Lady Margaret Hall and across the University of Oxford, and are taught using the Oxford teaching model, which emphasises personalised small-group learning.
In a series of thought-provoking lectures and lively seminar discussions you will learn about cutting-edge research, expand your core knowledge, and explore new ideas and concepts among peers with diverse international perspectives and academic backgrounds.
Tutorials, the conclusion of each week’s study, are an intellectual thrill. They are a unique opportunity for focused and personalised attention from an expert academic and a space for enthusiastic debate of important ideas. Alongside no more than two to three other students, you will present and discuss your work, accept constructive criticism, and engage with the ideas of your fellow students. These rigorous academic discussions help develop and facilitate learning in a way that cannot be done with lectures alone.
On a three-week LMH Summer Programme students produce one piece of assessed work every week, which is submitted to the tutor and then discussed in a tutorial. At the end of each week you will receive a percentage grade for your submitted work. Each week’s work counts for a third of your final percentage grade, so your final grade is an average of the mark received for each piece of work. Students who stay for six or nine weeks will receive a separate grade for each 3-week course.
Lady Margaret Hall will provide a transcript of your assessed work, and can send this directly to your home institution if required. LMH Summer Programmes are designed to be eligible for academic credit, and we will communicate with your home institution to facilitate this as needed. As a guide, we recommend the award of 15 CATS / 7.5 ECTS / 4 US Credits for each 3-week course.
Experience Oxford University’s world-renowned tutorial teaching system, explore fascinating subjects with experts in the field, and gain new skills to take you further in your future academic or professional career.
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