6 episodes

To what extent has the definition of English literature changed over the last 50 years? What criteria do we use when classifying a novel as English? And is this definition organic enough to assimilate new works and different interpretations? Professor Terry Eagleton leads the discussion by explaining how perceptions of Englishness changed during the 20th century and we discover that as a result of authors such as Chinua Achebe, Andrea Levy and Marina Levitska, notions of what was an English novel have adapted to accommodate new experiences and expand beyond traditional assumptions.

This material forms part of The Open University course A230 Reading and studying literature.

Perceptions of English literature - for iPod/iPhone The Open University

    • Education

To what extent has the definition of English literature changed over the last 50 years? What criteria do we use when classifying a novel as English? And is this definition organic enough to assimilate new works and different interpretations? Professor Terry Eagleton leads the discussion by explaining how perceptions of Englishness changed during the 20th century and we discover that as a result of authors such as Chinua Achebe, Andrea Levy and Marina Levitska, notions of what was an English novel have adapted to accommodate new experiences and expand beyond traditional assumptions.

This material forms part of The Open University course A230 Reading and studying literature.

    How English is English literature?

    How English is English literature?

    Can we still consider English literature English?

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- How English is English literature?

    Transcript -- How English is English literature?

    Can we still consider English literature English?

    What is English literature?

    What is English literature?

    Authors discuss the literature they were exposed to as children.

    • 5 min
    Transcript -- What is English literature?

    Transcript -- What is English literature?

    Authors discuss the literature they were exposed to as children.

    New voices

    New voices

    During the wave of independence many writers from the de-colonised countries began to have their work published.

    • 14 min
    Transcript -- New voices

    Transcript -- New voices

    During the wave of independence many writers from the de-colonised countries began to have their work published.

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