Non-Human Narratives

About this course

The course examines how contemporary fiction, poetry and speculative writing respond to ecological crisis and question human-centred ways of understanding the world. Topics include ecological storytelling, animal and plant agency, interspecies relationships, ecocriticism, landscape representation and imagined ecological futures. Teaching combines mini-lectures, close reading, critical essays, and whole- and small-group discussion. Participants consider how unusual narrators, including clouds, mushrooms and cities, can reshape ideas about perception, connection and ecological existence, while sharing their own responses to the texts.

What you'll learn

• Identify contemporary authors and literary works concerned with ecological issues.
• Analyse how writers use more-than-human perspectives to challenge human-centred worldviews.
• Explain connections between literature, nature and activism in the context of ecological crises.
• Critically discuss how literature reflects on and responds to environmental concerns.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners interested in contemporary fiction, environmental politics and ecological imaginaries, whether or not they have studied literature before. Participation includes close reading, whole- and small-group discussion, and sharing responses with others. Set reading and preparatory questions are part of the study between sessions.

• No previous literature study is needed.
• Participants are expected to read set texts between sessions.
• The course includes both small-group and whole-group discussion.

Before you go

• All course materials are provided.
• Digital readings are sent before each session.
• Preparation involves completing the set reading and considering questions in advance.