Academics at Hanover:
At Hanover, English majors read, write and study literature in order to investigate the basic human impulse to make sense of life through art.
You’ll study traditional literary works as well as underrepresented voices that may be new to you. Our award-winning faculty and visiting scholars will challenge you with new ideas. Develop your own creative writing and contribute to the student-run literary magazine, newspaper or coffee house readings. Travel abroad to discover your literary roots. As you advance in your studies, take one of our unique, in-depth seminars focused on a literary master. The major culminates with an independent research or creative project you design yourself.
ARE YOU HUNGRY?
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and Hanover alumna Carol Shields ’57 coined the term “narrative hunger,” the human need to understand human experience by shaping it into literary form. Hanover English students share this hunger.
A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE
Hanover English graduates are well prepared for graduate school and to pursue careers in:
- Law
- Teaching
- Business
- Journalism
- Publishing
What do English majors study?
- Literary analysis
- Early literature
- English Literature
- American Literature
- Other topics that interest you, from Shakespeare to poetry to Arthurian literature to non-fiction
Sample graduate school placements:
- University of North Carolina
- Boston College
- Duke University Law School
- Miami of Ohio
- William and Mary
- University of Kentucky
- University of Chicago
- University of Iowa Writers Workshop
- Indiana University
- University of Illinois
Our alumni become professionals such as:
- Actors
- University English professors
- Peace Corps volunteers
- Editors
- Playwrights
- Novelists
- Lawyers
- Business professionals
- Web designers
- High school teachers
COURSES
Number
Name
Units
Description
ENG 113
Introduction to Poetry
1.00
This course offers an introduction to the features of lyric poetry that distinguish it from other types of literature--concentrated imagery and figures of speech, sound effects such as rhythm and rhyme, and use of special forms--through the analysis of great poems from a variety of time periods and cultures. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 161
Poetry: The Spoken Word
1.00
Explores poetry as a spoken as well as a written art form. Includes an introduction to the history of poetry from Homer to the BreakBeats, with an emphasis on the study of oratory and poetic delivery and analysis of poetic devices, techniques, and forms. Students will write and present their own work as well as the work of major poets throughout the ages. Partially atisfies the LA CCR and satisfies the S ACE.
ENG 172
The Quest Archetype in Literature
1.00
An examination of the Quest archetype in literature. The course will use C. G. Jung’s theories of the collective unconscious and of archetypes, as well as Joseph Campbell’s Quest paradigm, to study works in various genres from classical antiquity to contemporary culture. Satisfies W1 ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 173
Fiction and Its Genres
1.00
A study of narrative fiction with special emphasis on the various genres of the modern short-story and novel, such as adventure stories, fantasy, comedy, detective fiction, horror, science fiction, and literary fiction. The course will also examine different theories of genre, including those proposed by folklorists, psychologists, historians, and literary theorists, in order to understand how genres function and evolve. Satisfies W1 ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 174
Welcome to Bollywood
1.00
The study of classic texts of literature and film from India. This course will use both Indian epics and films as a lens through which to develop an understanding of the variety and richness of Hindu and Muslim culture in India. Satisfies W1 and CP ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 175
Journeys to the Underworld
1.00
A comparative study of works of literature and/or film whose central action involves a journey to either a literal or a metaphorical underworld. Satisfies W1 ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 176
Medieval and Renaissance Eurasia
1.00
An examination of great works of literature and art of the Middle East, China, Europe, and Japan from 300 CE to 1600 CE. The course will trace and compare the fundamental themes of human culture as they are developed in works from these periods, which include the rise of Christianity and Islam and the continuing growth and influence of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Satisfies W1 and CP ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 177
Mythography of the Monstrous
1.00
An examination of some of the most famous monsters of literature from Classical Antiquity to the present-day. The course explores how monsters express the values, anxieties, and hopes of their age. Satisfies W1 ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 178
Beauty and the Beast in Literature
1.00
This course explores the enduring theme of Beauty and the Beast in literature across cultures, from antiquity to the present day. We approach this theme both as a timeless expression of the female "quest," and as a timely definition of beauty through its opposite: the monstrous. Satisfies W1 ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 179
Water
1.00
An examination of works of literature, art, and film from ancient to modern times that depict or incorporate images of water. From cave paintings to Monet’s Water Lilies, from Homer’s Odyssey to SpongeBob, depictions of water have conveyed ideas about time, motion, the origins and nature of the cosmos, and the relationship of human beings to the natural world. Satisfies W1 ACE and partially satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 181
Shakespeare and Film
1.00
Even though Shakespeare created his plays four hundred years ago, they have inspired film directors of the 20th and 21st centuries more often than any other literary works. This course will examine different film versions of several of Shakespeare’s plays along with their texts to explore how contemporary viewers find meaning in and transform these enduring works. Satisfies the W1 ACE. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 182
Satire & the American Personality
1.00
A study of works of literatrue and other media whose central action critiques social norms of behavior. Satisfies the W1 ACE and partially satisfies teh LA CCR.
ENG 183
Fiction in the American South
1.00
An examination of the short fiction and novels of the American South, covering late 19th and 20th centuries. We will hear from a multi-cultural array of voices, recognizing the many narratives that arise from this region of the country. Authors covered may include William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, LeAnne Howe, Lee Smith, and Zora Neale Hurston. Partially satisifies LA CCR, satisfies W1 ACE.
ENG 184
Writing in the Digital Humanities
1.00
In this writing-intensive class, students will both practice and analyze the application of digital technologies to the arts, literature, and related fields of study – that is, the digital humanities. Representative topics include “distant reading,” text mining, digital archives and editions, electronic publishing, and digital performances. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the W1 ACE.
ENG 185
American Nature Writing
1.00
A writing-intensive course that explores the history, circumstances, issues, and modes (narrative, description, exposition, persuasion, reflection, technical, etc.) of exemplary American nature writing. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the W1 ACE.
ENG 217
Fairy Tale Fictions
1.00
A study of fairy tales, their patterns, motifs, and ideological assumptions as well as critical approaches to tale analysis. Includes elements of storytelling and creative writing. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the S ACE.
ENG 218
Viking Myths & Legends
1.00
A study of the earliest literature of the Northern Germanic peoples, including the mythology of the Poetic Edda, the legendary sagas of the migration age, and the Icelandic family sagas. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 219
Love and Death: Star-Crossed Lovers
1.00
This course explores the legendary theme of the Liebestod, or Death in Love from antiquity to the present day. These tragic love stories, including Tristan and Isolde and Romeo and Juliette, involve lovers who encounter insurmountable social obstacles that lead to their untimely deaths, making them some of the most enduring love stories of all time. Offered Spring Term only. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 224
Grammar of the English Language
1.00
A study of English grammar, focusing especially on the building blocks of the sentence: words, phrases, and clauses. Other topics will include different approaches to grammar (pedagogical, prespective, and descriptive); basic properties of language (morphology, syntax, and semantics); and practical applications, including punctuation, usage, and style. Not open to students with prior credit in ENG 220.
ENG 240
Literary Analysis
1.00
An introduction to basic techniques of literary analysis, with emphasis on close reading and group discussion. Texts will typically focus upon a particular theme or genre. This writing-intensive course is designed for students with strong interests in literature, and as a foundation course for majors and minors.
ENG 243
Survey I: Early Literature
1.00
Survey of selected masterpieces of the world’s early literary traditions. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies S ACE.
ENG 244
Survey II: Medieval Literature
1.00
Survey of major works from the beginning of English literature to about 1500. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 245
Survey III:Renaissance & Resto
1.00
Survey of major works. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 246
Survey IV: Eng. Lit. 1700-1900
1.00
Survey of major works. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies the W2 ACE.
ENG 247
Survey V: American Lit to 1900
1.00
Introduction to American literature, from its beginnings to 1900. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 251
American Journalism
1.00
An introductory course that explores the theoretical and practical sides of contemporary newspaper, magazine, and Internet journalism. Topics may include history and evolution of U.S. print media, their ethics, and their role in American society today. Intensive work on reporting and writing. In-class discussion of student work. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies the W1 ACE. Identical to Com 251.
ENG 252
Creative Writng for the Digital Age
1.00
An introduction to contemporary creative writing, including fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction both individually and as they apply to other audio and visual mediums such as comic books and podcasts. Student work is presented and critically reviewed in seminar sessions. Not open to students with prior credit in ENG 352.
ENG 253
Creative Writing and the Podcast
1.00
A creative writing course with an intensive focus in the narrative craft and practical construction of podcasts. Student work is presented and critiqued in seminar sessions. Prerequisite ENG 252.
ENG 265
20th C Irish Literature and History
1.00
An off-campus course in Ireland focusing on the relationship between 20th Century Irish History and Literature, with particular attention to literary and historical views of the War for Independence, the Civil War, and the Troubles. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 321
20th-Century Poetry
1.00
Significant works of poetry in England and the United States since 1900. Practice in the close reading of poetry. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 322
20th-Century Fiction
1.00
Significant works of fiction in England and the United States since 1900. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 324
The Short Story
1.00
A study of the development of the short story as a literary art form. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 325
African-American Literature
1.00
A study of the literature of African- American women and men from the 18th century to the present. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the LA CCR, satisfies W2 ACE, satisfies CP ACE.
ENG 326
Women in Fiction
1.00
A study of portrayals of the female personality in selected writings of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies S ACE.
ENG 327
Arthurian Literature
1.00
A study of Arthurian legend in selected works of literature and art from the Middle Ages to the present. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 331
19th - Century English Novel
1.00
Intensive study of representative English novels from 1818-1903. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 332
Literary Genderquests
1.00
An examination of works of LGBTQ+ literature through the lens of queer, trans, postcolonial, and intersectional theories.
ENG 334
Shakespeare
1.00
Selected plays of Shakespeare, examined both as literature and as theatre. Offered on campus alternate years. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 336
Modern Drama
1.00
Significant dramatic works from Ibsen to the present. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 338
American Renaissance
1.00
A study of U.S. literature, 1830-1865. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 339
US Literature 1865-1917
1.00
Offered alternate years.
ENG 343
Screenwriting
1.00
Writing for narrative film. Emphasis on structure, character development, meaning, and professional format. Identical to THR 343.
ENG 347
Chaucer
1.00
The major works of the great 14th-century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, read in Middle English. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 348
Shakespeare in England
1.00
Selected plays of Shakespeare in performance, together with the cultural settings from which they emerged. Identical to Thr 348. Offered in Stratford-upon-Avon in Spring Term odd-numbered years. Permission of the instructor is required. May be repeated for credit. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
ENG 350
Florence of Dante & Petrarch
1.00
Studies in the history and literature of Florence in the 13th and 14th centuries. Taught in Florence in Spring Term in even-numbered years. Permission of the instructor is required. Satisfies LA CCR.
ENG 353
Studies in Poetry
1.00
A seminar, primarily for junior English majors, on a relatively specific topic within the genre. Prerequisites: junior major status or permission. May be repeated for additional credit, including additional credit toward the major or minor in English, with permission of the instructor. Satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 354
Studies in Fiction
1.00
A seminar, primarily for junior English majors, on a relatively specific topic within the genre. Prerequisites: junior major status or permission. May be repeated for additional credit, including additional credit toward the major or minor in English, with permission of the instructor. Satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 355
Advanced Creative Writing Workshop
1.00
An advanced creative writing course with an intensive focus on the craft and style of prose and lyrical forms. Student work is presented and critiqued in seminar sessions. Prerequisite: ENG 252 Creative Writing for the Digital Age or ENG 352 Fiction and Poetry Workshop. May be repeated for additional credit, with permission of the instructor.
ENG 356
Studies in Drama
1.00
A seminar, primarily for junior English majors, on a relatively specific topic within the genre. Prerequisites: junior major status or permission. May be repeated for additional credit, including additional credit toward the major or minor in English, with permission of the instructor. Satisfies W2 ACE.
ENG 358
Editing and Publishing Practicum
1.00
This course will focus on providing students with the knowledge and practical skills involved in creating and producing both print and digital versions of a literary journal of the arts. Students will actively participate in content selection, editing, copy-editing, marketing, designing, and distributing a professional literary journal. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
ENG 461
Senior Seminar
1.00
Analysis and discussion of basic principles of literary study.
Faculty
Dominique Battles
Professor of English/Writing Coordinator
812-866-7086
battlesd@hanover.edu
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Kay Stokes
Special Assistant to the President for Accreditation and External Relations/Associate Professor of English
812-866-7215
stokes@hanover.edu
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