BA (Hons)EnglishThe English syllabus at <strong>Lincoln</strong> islively and contemporary. It <strong>of</strong>fersstudents the opportunity to engagewith the classics <strong>of</strong> English literature,but we also make space for the textsand ideas that are happening now.We have a research focus on 21stcentury literature and during theirtime here, English students can studypost-colonial writing, popular culture,American literature, contemporarydrama, ecocriticism, gothic literatureand film, life writing and critical theory.They even have a chance to becomeEnglish is a subject <strong>of</strong> big ideas, andthe English programme at <strong>Lincoln</strong>doesn’t shy away from askingchallenging questions about identity,gender, representation, difference,and the individual’s relationshipto the world. All these issues areraised by studying literary works thatcan be provocative, strange, andbeautiful - <strong>of</strong>ten all at the same time.part <strong>of</strong> the literary tradition themselvesby taking our creative writing modules.As for employment after graduation,all the evidence is that skills basedon writing are essential to most formsand all levels <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional work,and that this is <strong>of</strong>ten more importantthan narrow vocational training. Whenthey graduate, our students are ableto read closely and discriminately;to write concisely and convincingly;to present information in a confidentand organised manner; and to thinkdeeply and critically about anyissue they encounter. They go onto careers in fields as varied asteaching, publishing, journalism,advertising, and public relations.<strong>Lincoln</strong> is a great place to studyEnglish. English staff at <strong>Lincoln</strong> pridethemselves on their approachabilityand availability. But don’t just takeour word for it: come and talk toour students at an open day.<strong>Lincoln</strong> EnglishEnglish joint degreesEnglish can be combined in exciting andunexpected ways with a range <strong>of</strong> other subjects.At <strong>Lincoln</strong> students have theopportunity to study English withDrama, History and Journalism. Witha joint degree students have thefreedom to explore both subjects andexamine the relationship between thetwo. They will encounter a stimulatingvariety <strong>of</strong> texts and approachesin their English studies, includingliterature from the eighteenth centuryto the contemporary moment, postcolonialstudies and critical theory,and options in film and popularculture. By combining English withStaff pr<strong>of</strong>ile:Dr Christopher MarlowProgramme LeaderBA (Hons) EnglishDrama, students can work creativelyand practically as well as critically.Choosing to study Journalism withEnglish allows students to developpr<strong>of</strong>essional journalistic skills alongsidetheir literary studies, and historical andcultural questions can be exploredfrom a range <strong>of</strong> perspectives bystudying English with History. It is thisbreadth and flexibility that make a jointdegree an ideal choice for studentslooking for the best <strong>of</strong> both worlds.I was born and grew up in the WestMidlands, and did my undergraduatedegree at Royal Holloway, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>London. After completing an MA andPhD at Cardiff <strong>University</strong>, I joined the<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lincoln</strong> in 2003. My PhDthesis was on the representation <strong>of</strong>friendship in Renaissance poetry anddrama, and I continue to be fascinatedby the literature and culture <strong>of</strong> thesixteenth and seventeenth centuries.For me, this is the most exciting period <strong>of</strong>literary endeavour in English, a time whennew forms and genres <strong>of</strong> writing werebeing called into existence with dizzyingspeed. In the first half <strong>of</strong> the seventeenthcentury alone writers <strong>of</strong> the calibre <strong>of</strong>Shakespeare, Jonson, Donne, Herbertand Milton were creating innovativeworks <strong>of</strong> literature that continue toinspire and challenge readers today.Most <strong>of</strong> my teaching is in the area<strong>of</strong> seventeenth-century writing. I runan optional third-year module onShakespeare, and two optional secondyearmodules - Renaissance Literatureand Restoration Literature - that explorethe founding moments <strong>of</strong> literature inthe modern English language. I enjoyencouraging students to recognizeboth the familiarity and the strangenessapparent in the writing <strong>of</strong> the past. Many<strong>of</strong> my publications deal with this issuetoo, including my most recent work onRenaissance student drama. I also havea research interest in representations<strong>of</strong> the future, particularly the future asimagined by the television programmeDoctor Who.4Student view:Natasha O’BrienBA (Hons) EnglishStudying English at <strong>Lincoln</strong> has beena life changing experience. From theRenaissance to Twenty First Centuryliteratures, the course caters for allinterests and exposes you to areas <strong>of</strong>literary study that are not as mainstream.An aspect I enjoyed in the secondyear was a module called ‘PostcolonialLiterature’. Being able to read texts thatwere written back in the British Empirewas fascinating, as it showed howthe history <strong>of</strong> the Empire has helpedshape the face and voice <strong>of</strong> modernEnglish literature. The course also aidsand develops valuable skills such asorganisation and team working as themethods <strong>of</strong> study and assessmentare varied for each module. ModernDrama for instance gave me the chanceto do a small performance as part <strong>of</strong>an assessment. Now that I am a thirdyear student, I can fully appreciate thehelp that the English tutors provide.Their support and knowledge is trulyinspirational and without their enthusiasm,the course would not be the same. I willbe very sad to leave <strong>Lincoln</strong> but it hasgiven me the best English foundationsto help further my career as a teacher.Who knows, I may one day be backfor a Masters. Thank you <strong>University</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Lincoln</strong> English!Student view:Samuel WhewallBA (Hons) EnglishThe way the English course at <strong>Lincoln</strong>is structured has allowed me todevelop my own style <strong>of</strong> learning andresearch with the constant direction andencouragement <strong>of</strong> a dedicated team <strong>of</strong>tutors and staff. Starting a degree coursewas undoubtedly a daunting prospect,but the introductory lectures andmodules included in Level One madethe transition into Higher Education acomfortable one. The most appealingaspect <strong>of</strong> the course is the variety <strong>of</strong>literature that its students are introducedto during their three years; the diversity<strong>of</strong> the texts included has openedup my mind to a multitude <strong>of</strong> literaryforms and styles, allowing well informeddecision making when narrowing downmy area <strong>of</strong> study at Level Two andThree. Having secured a permanentrole with the <strong>University</strong>’s MarketingDept. upon completion <strong>of</strong> the course,I can confidently say that the Englishcourse at <strong>Lincoln</strong> has equipped mewith a widely transferable skill set andhas significantly improved the potentialI have as an employable graduate.5