Jane Austen: Literature and Legacy

Jane Austen created some of the most fondly loved characters in literature, with generations of readers fascinated by her juxtaposition of romance and reality in Regency England. Why do Austen’s novels continue to resonate so deeply across the centuries? Join this course to immerse yourself in this captivating world where love, class, and identity intersect, explore the key themes and stylistic techniques employed, and 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 (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 literary context in which Austen was writing, and as well as discussing the varied reception of Austen’s work, from the ‘fandom’ of Janeitism to the critical reassessment of her works through feminist or postcolonial frameworks, 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 skills of literary analysis and their knowledge of this seminal author.

By the end of this course you will:

• Be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the novels of Jane Austen.
• Be able to evaluate the relationship between Austen’s novels and their historical and cultural context.
• Be able to apply key theoretical frameworks including feminist theory and postcolonial theory to the works of Jane Austen.
• Be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the varied and diverse reception, critical reinterpretation, and creative reimagination of Austen’s works over the last two centuries.

This course would suit students of the Humanities, especially those with an interest in English Literature, Theatre, or Dramatic Arts. There are no specific prerequisites for participation but close literary reading of extensive amounts of text will be central to the course, and experience of undergraduate level study of literature is therefore recommended.

Available as a Residential course on the following date:

Session 3: 11th August to 29th August 2025

Click below to find out how to apply.