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.
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.
- Forums:
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- 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.
Focus on building foundational skills for academic engagement with literature. No prerequisites; ideal starting point for beginners.
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Reading and Writing | Develops critical reading strategies, essay composition, and argumentation skills essential for literary analysis and scholarly communication. | They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing | Essay and report writing skills |
| Literary Terms and Concepts | Introduces key vocabulary (e.g., metaphor, irony, narrative structure) to enable precise discussion of texts. | A Glossary of Literary Terms | The Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms |
| Introduction to Literary Theory | Provides an overview of major theoretical approaches (e.g., formalism, structuralism) to interpret literature beyond surface level. | Literary Theory: An Introduction | Introduction to Theory of Literature |
Deepens knowledge in historical contexts, genres, and critical frameworks. Prerequisites: All Introductory subjects.
Divide into two sub-phases for balance: Phase I focuses on history and genres; Phase II on theory and comparative studies.
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| History of English Literature: Medieval to Renaissance | Traces the evolution of English literature from its origins, building contextual understanding of cultural influences. | The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1 | History of English Literature |
| History of English Literature: Enlightenment to Romanticism | Examines shifts in thought, society, and style during periods of intellectual and emotional transformation. | The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2 | Covered in History of English Literature |
| History of English Literature: Victorian to Modern | Explores industrialization, imperialism, and modernity's impact on literary forms. | The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2 (continued) | Covered in History of English Literature |
| Genres: Poetry | Analyzes poetic forms, techniques, and themes across eras to appreciate linguistic artistry. | The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms | Approaching poetry |
| Genres: Novel and Prose Fiction | Investigates narrative structures, character development, and social commentary in long-form fiction. | The Novel: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory 1900–2000 | Approaching prose fiction |
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genres: Drama and Theater | Studies dramatic conventions, performance elements, and societal reflections in plays. | The Norton Anthology of Drama | Crash Course Theater |
| Critical Theory: Foundations | Builds on intro theory with deeper exploration of Marxism, psychoanalysis, and feminism for interpretive tools. | Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide | The Frankfurt School of Critical Theory |
| Comparative Literature: Principles | Introduces methods for comparing texts across cultures, languages, and traditions to broaden perspectives. | Comparative Literature: A Critical Introduction | Comparative Literature |
| World Literature in English | Examines non-Anglo texts translated into English, fostering global awareness. | The Norton Anthology of World Literature | Masterpieces of World Literature |
Elective deepening through specialization tracks. Choose 1–2 tracks; each includes 3–4 subjects to allow focused expertise while maintaining breadth.
Focuses on experimental forms and responses to modernity (e.g., fragmentation, stream-of-consciousness).
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modernist Literature: Key Texts | Explores innovations in form and content during the early 20th century. | The Modernist Papers | Introduction to Modernist Literature |
| Modernism and Culture | Examines intersections with art, psychology, and war. | Modernism: A Very Short Introduction | The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 1) |
| Postmodernism Extensions | Investigates shifts from modernism to postmodern playfulness and irony. | Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism | Covered in The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 1) |
Emphasizes literature from formerly colonized regions, addressing power, identity, and resistance.
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcolonial Theory | Introduces concepts like hybridity and subaltern voices. | The Post-Colonial Studies Reader | Postcolonial Literature |
| Postcolonial Literature: Africa and Asia | Analyzes narratives of decolonization and cultural reclamation. | The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures | Covered in Postcolonial Literature OR Postcolonial Literature (indian english, but this is the only full & free course I could find) |
| Diaspora and Migration in Literature | Explores themes of displacement and transnational identities. | Diaspora: An Introduction | Refugee, Migration, Diaspora |
Investigates representations of gender, sexuality, and power in literature.
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feminist Literary Criticism | Applies gender lenses to reinterpret canonical and marginalized texts. | Feminist Literary Theory: A Reader | The Classical Feminist Tradition in Literature |
| Queer Theory in Literature | Examines non-normative sexualities and identities. | Queer Theory: An Introduction | Queer Theory and Gender Performativity |
| Gender and Intersectionality | Integrates race, class, and gender for multifaceted analysis. | This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color | Gender and Intersectionality |
Blends literature with technology for new analytical methods (e.g., text mining, digital archives).
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Digital Humanities | Overviews tools for digitizing and analyzing texts. | Debates in the Digital Humanities | Introduction to Digital Humanities |
| Textual Analysis with Digital Tools | Teaches computational methods for pattern recognition in literature. | Digital_Humanities | Text Analysis with Digital Tools (unavailable) |
| Digital Storytelling and Archives | Explores creating and curating digital literary projects. | The Johns Hopkins Guide to Digital Media | Digital Storytelling |
Deepens theoretical mastery for sophisticated critique.
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Literary Theory | To delve into complex theories like post-structuralism for advanced analysis. | ||
| Structuralism and Post-Structuralism | Delves into language, signs, and deconstruction. | Structuralism and Poststructuralism for Beginners | Structuralism & Post-Structuralism |
| Marxist and Cultural Materialism | Analyzes literature through economic and ideological lenses. | Marxism and Literature | |
| Ecocriticism and Environmental Theory | Applies theory to nature, sustainability, and human-environment relations in texts. | The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology | Ecocriticism |
Synthesizes the program through an independent project. Prerequisites: All previous phases.
Choose one project type based on interests and tracks:
- Research Thesis: A 5,000–10,000-word paper on a literary topic (e.g., modernism in postcolonial contexts).
- Comparative Literature Analysis: In-depth comparison of 3–5 texts across genres/periods/theories.
- Critical Edition Project: Annotated edition of a lesser-known text.
- Digital Humanities Project: Create a digital archive, visualization, or interactive analysis (e.g., text network graph).
- Annotated Anthology: Curated collection of excerpts with critical annotations.
- Public-Facing Project: Essays, podcasts, or explanatory series for general audiences.
Guidance: Dedicate time to research, drafting, and revision. Use skills from all phases. Self-evaluate via rubric focusing on originality, evidence, and synthesis.
| Subject | Why Study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Thesis | A culminating academic paper on a literary topic. | Thesis Writing Guide | Academic Writing Made Easy |
| Comparative Literature Analysis | Cross-cultural or cross-period study. | A Companion to Comparative Literature | Comparative Literature |
| Critical Edition Project | Annotated edition of a lesser-known text. | Guidelines for Editors of Scholarly Editions | Digital Critical Editions |
| Digital Humanities Project | Blog, website, or data visualization of literary themes. | A Short Guide to the Digital_Humanities | Introduction to Digital Humanities |
| Annotated Anthology | Curated collection with commentary. | Literature Study Guide: Anthology Highlights & Analysis | Thematic Reading Anthology |
| Public-Facing Project | Essays, podcasts, or explanatory series for general audiences. | Engage in Public Scholarship | Public Writing |
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor's degree in Literature. Congratulations!