Literature
Great Works: George Eliot's Middlemarch
An in-person, all-levels study of Middlemarch through close reading, critical perspectives and discussion of its themes, characters and narrative methods.
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Upcoming classes
1 class
About this course
The course examines how Middlemarch represents individuals within the social “web” of the novel, focusing on characters including Dorothea Brooke, Edward Casaubon, Tertius Lydgate and Rosamond Vincy. Close reading of extracts is combined with class discussion, presentation slides and critical material. It also considers the novel’s engagement with contemporary politics, philosophy and science, and how these ideas shape its language, characterisation and narrative voice. Learners may be asked to read short extracts before sessions.
What you'll learn
- Analyse selected passages from Middlemarch in relation to its language and narrative methods.
- Discuss key themes and concerns developed across the novel.
- Examine critical perspectives on Middlemarch.
Is this course right for you?
The course is open to learners at all levels and does not require prior knowledge. Reading Middlemarch before the course is considered helpful, and participation involves close reading, discussion and consideration of critical material. Some short extracts may be set for reading before class.
- Suitable for learners without prior study of the novel.
- Reading the novel in advance is helpful but not required.
Before you go
- Learners need to borrow or buy their own copy of Middlemarch; any edition can be used, with the Oxford University Press edition recommended.
- Bring a pen and paper for note-taking.
- Key extracts and contextual material will be provided as digital handouts and paper copies.