English - Literature Minor Concentration (B.A.) (18 credits)
Offered by: English (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Arts and Science
Program credit weight: 18
Program Description
The Minor Concentration English - Literature may be expanded to the Major Concentration English - Literature.
For the most up-to-date information on Department requirements and detailed course descriptions, please see the English Department Handbook at http://www.mcgill.ca/english/.
Required Courses (6 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 202 | Departmental Survey of English Literature 1. | 3 |
Departmental Survey of English Literature 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A survey of English literature before 1750 for students registered in English programs. | ||
| ENGL 203 | Departmental Survey of English Literature 2. | 3 |
Departmental Survey of English Literature 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A survey of English literature after 1750 for students registered in English programs. | ||
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits selected as described below.
Note on Topics Courses: The Department of English offers courses which change topic from academic year to academic year. Depending on the topic in a specific year, these courses may count toward different program requirements. At the time they register for a topics course, students should confirm with their program adviser the program requirement it fulfils for that academic year.
Major Author
3 credits on a Major Author:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 315 | Shakespeare. | 3 |
Shakespeare. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A study of the major works of Shakespeare. | ||
| ENGL 316 | Milton. | 3 |
| ENGL 357 | Chaucer . | 3 |
Chaucer . Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the works of Chaucer. | ||
| ENGL 409 | Studies in a Canadian Author. | 3 |
Studies in a Canadian Author. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Advanced study of a significant author in Canadian literature. | ||
| ENGL 416 | Studies in Shakespeare. | 3 |
Studies in Shakespeare. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the works of Shakespeare. | ||
| ENGL 417 | A Major English Poet. | 3 |
A Major English Poet. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the works of a mahor English poet. | ||
| ENGL 418 | A Major Modernist Writer. | 3 |
A Major Modernist Writer. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Intensive study of a writer important for Modernism, such as James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein. | ||
Pre-1800
3 credits from a list of pre-1800 literature courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 301 | Earlier 18th Century Novel. | 3 |
Earlier 18th Century Novel. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Study of the English novel to c. 1750. | ||
| ENGL 302 | Restoration and 18th C. English Literature 1. | 3 |
Restoration and 18th C. English Literature 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the major writers of the late 17th and earlier 18th centuries. | ||
| ENGL 304 | Later Eighteenth Century Novel. | 3 |
Later Eighteenth Century Novel. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of later 18th century novels. | ||
| ENGL 305 | Renaissance English Literature 1. | 3 |
Renaissance English Literature 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of major non-dramatic works of the earlier Renaissance in England. | ||
| ENGL 307 | Renaissance English Literature 2. | 3 |
Renaissance English Literature 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A study of major non-dramatic works of the later Renaissance in England. | ||
| ENGL 308 | English Renaissance Drama 1. | 3 |
English Renaissance Drama 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An overview of some major authors and issues in English Renaissance Drama. | ||
| ENGL 315 | Shakespeare. | 3 |
Shakespeare. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A study of the major works of Shakespeare. | ||
| ENGL 316 | Milton. | 3 |
| ENGL 342 | Introduction to Old English. | 3 |
Introduction to Old English. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to grammar and basic vocabulary in Old English. | ||
| ENGL 347 | Great Writings of Europe 1. | 3 |
Great Writings of Europe 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of selected texts that significantly enhance understanding of English literature. | ||
| ENGL 348 | Great Writings of Europe 2. | 3 |
Great Writings of Europe 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of selected texts that significantly enhance understanding of English literature. | ||
| ENGL 349 | English Literature and Folklore 1. | 3 |
English Literature and Folklore 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of representative texts from Beowulf to the late Renaissance period in relation to their background in folk tradition. A focus on the origin and development of folklore motifs. | ||
| ENGL 356 | Middle English. | 3 |
Middle English. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of works in Middle English. | ||
| ENGL 357 | Chaucer . | 3 |
Chaucer . Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the works of Chaucer. | ||
| ENGL 400 | Earlier English Renaissance. | 3 |
Earlier English Renaissance. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A study of earlier English Renaissance works. | ||
| ENGL 401 | Studies in the 17th Century. | 3 |
Studies in the 17th Century. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of 17th century works. | ||
| ENGL 403 | Studies in the 18th Century. | 3 |
Studies in the 18th Century. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of 18th century works. | ||
| ENGL 416 | Studies in Shakespeare. | 3 |
Studies in Shakespeare. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the works of Shakespeare. | ||
| ENGL 444 | Studies in Women Authors. | 3 |
Studies in Women Authors. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of a particular topic related to literary, dramatic, or cultural productions by female-identified authors. | ||
| ENGL 452 | Studies in Old English. | 3 |
Studies in Old English. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Study of an aspect of Old English Literature which presupposes a grounding in the language. | ||
| ENGL 456 | Middle English. | 3 |
Middle English. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A study of works in Middle English. | ||
Additional Literature
6 additional credits from ENGL offerings in Literature which includes all the courses specifically listed in the Literature categories for the Major Concentration in English - Literature program and the courses listed below. Any ENGL course not on these Literature lists, such as courses in Cultural Studies, may not count.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 199 | FYS: Form and Representation. | 3 |
FYS: Form and Representation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to major modes of literary and cultural representation in English, including poetry, drama, film, the novel, and other forms. | ||
| ENGL 204 | English Literature and the Bible. | 3 |
English Literature and the Bible. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course will examine the literary dimensions of the Bible including structure, style, and meaning as well as its status as Sacred Book. The influence of the Bible-as-metatext on the secular literature of the West will be the focus of the discussion. | ||
| ENGL 237 | Introduction to Study of a Literary Form. | 3 |
Introduction to Study of a Literary Form. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to literary study through a survey of a literary genre, mode, or form. | ||
| ENGL 297 | Special Topics of Literary Study. | 3 |
Special Topics of Literary Study. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Special topics of literary study. Topic varies by year. | ||
| ENGL 343 | Literature and Science 1. | 3 |
Literature and Science 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of literature and science. Topic varies by year. | ||
| ENGL 345 | Literature and Society. | 3 |
Literature and Society. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of issues relating to literature and its social contexts, such as implications of gender, race, ethnicity. | ||
| ENGL 354 | Sexuality and Representation. | 3 |
Sexuality and Representation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics on representations of sexuality with reference to its cultural contexts. | ||
| ENGL 364 | Creative Writing. | 3 |
Creative Writing. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced seminar on creative writing. | ||
| ENGL 385AA | Film Adaptations of Shakespeare | 3 |
Film Adaptations of Shakespeare Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A topic in literature and film. Topics vary by year. | ||
| ENGL 394 | Popular Literary Forms. | 3 |
Popular Literary Forms. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A popular literary author or genre, such as the romance novel, science fiction, the graphic novel, or cyberpunk. | ||
| ENGL 421 | African Literature. | 3 |
African Literature. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of African literature. | ||
| ENGL 424 | Irish Literature. | 3 |
Irish Literature. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of Irish literature. Topic varies by year. | ||
| ENGL 437 | Studies in Literary Form. | 3 |
Studies in Literary Form. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of a specific literary form. Topic varies by year. | ||
| ENGL 438 | Studies in Literary Form. | 3 |
Studies in Literary Form. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Study of a specific literary form. | ||
| ENGL 440 | First Nations and Inuit Literature and Media. | 3 |
First Nations and Inuit Literature and Media. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to Inuit and First Nations literature and media in Canada, including oral literature and the development of aboriginal television and film. | ||
| ENGL 444 | Studies in Women Authors. | 3 |
Studies in Women Authors. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of a particular topic related to literary, dramatic, or cultural productions by female-identified authors. | ||
| ENGL 447 | Crosscurrents/English Literature and European Literature 1. | 3 |
Crosscurrents/English Literature and European Literature 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Comparative study of English and European literature. Topic varies by year. | ||
| ENGL 460 | Studies in Literary Theory. | 3 |
Studies in Literary Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| ENGL 461 | Studies in Literary Theory 2. | 3 |
Studies in Literary Theory 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||