English Literature at Freiburg University
Why study English Literature?
Scroll down to discover some good reasons for studying English and Medieval literature, and learn more about our Master’s Programme in English Literatures and Literary Theory (MELLIT)!
Empathy. Learn to read others’ stories, become fascinated by their life narratives and enjoy the emotional bond which literature creates between strangers. Immerse yourself in the life experiences of others and learn to appreciate those who may seem different but can turn out to be surprisingly similar.
Novelty. Perhaps not something one would typically associate with the study of past literatures and cultures. However, a knowledge of literary heritage is deeply connected to the potential for developing innovative and exceptional ways of thinking.
Gratification. If your hobby has always been reading and writing, a literature degree is the definitive choice for you! It will give you the opportunity to turn your passion into your career, ensuring that you will be able to do what you love most.
Life-long learning. The study of literature has a starting point but no end point. Studying English literatures will provide you with the tools you need to access texts throughout your life. Even if you pursue a career outside academia or publishing, you will have developed the essential skills to think critically about the written word.
Imagination. Think differently, think creatively, think individually. In a world dominated by short-lived social media trends, literature empowers you to fly on the wings of imagination, helping you forge your own path and become the main character of your own story.
Social and Political Action. Studying literature is not just about spending days at the library, in an isolated ivory tower. Literary art is often subversive; it can be a bold act of resistance against authoritarian regimes.
Horizons. Literature broadens your perspective, allowing you to see beyond temporal and spatial boundaries. Gaining a deeper understanding of different ways of life teaches you that you can be who you want. It fosters flexibility, thus benefiting both your professional and your private life.
Language. Studying literature means becoming a specialist in the written word. Whether analysing the sound quality of a catchy advertisement or interpreting the many layers of a metaphor, you will be equipped with the tools to navigate written texts and understand their peculiarities.
Identification. Enjoy being a chameleon: set your own identity aside for a while and immerse yourself in a fictional character’s experience.
Transformation. Reading is a transformative experience. Allow yourself to be drawn into the narrative or the lyricism of a text: with every literary work we read, we acquire new perspectives that can shift our beliefs and aspirations.
Emotional Resonance. Literature has the power to console or challenge us. The depth of emotion conveyed through a well-crafted poem or narrative can bring out feelings of joy, sadness, anger, or nostalgia.
Relations. In-person or online book clubs, conferences, and workshops provide plenty of opportunities to connect with others from around the world. Studying English literature offers the chance to build meaningful relationships and cultivate long-lasting friendships.
Adventure. The study of literature is a lifelong adventure, filled with endless discoveries. The beauty of fiction lies in its unpredictability; you never quite know where the story will take you next or which landscapes, characters, and ideas are waiting to be explored.
Travelling. Literature offers a way to access other cultures and create a productive dialogue across borders. Whether you are interested in learning about the daily life of a few families in an English country village or wandering through the sublime landscapes of the North Pole, books allow you to explore new places. Furthermore, an English degree provides concrete opportunities for travel; you will have the chance to attend international conferences or participate in research stays at other institutions.
Understanding. Literature allows you to gain a better comprehension of universal themes such as love, loss, or justice. It invites reflection on fundamental truths about the human condition and pushes us to confront complex or abstract ideas. Ultimately, the study of literature allows you to explore the nature of knowledge itself.
Research. An English literature degree is a research-focussed degree, meaning you will be expected to contribute your own independent work to the field. Research skills extend beyond the academic world, however: time management and data analysis, for example, are just two competencies that can be applied to a wide range of career options.
Empowerment. Literature is power: it allows for a vast range of interpretations, thus empowering readers to draw their own conclusions and exercise freedom of thought. Studying literature allows us to acquire critical thinking skills, express our voices and make an impact on the world.
Why Study Medieval Literature?
When the word “medieval” is used in daily speech, it often carries negative connotations: something backward, something belonging to the past and totally unrelated to the present world. This is a great misconception, to say the least. Reading and studying medieval literature opens up a world of surprising images and ideas which are much closer to us than one may think. From the presence of genderqueer saints in hagiographies, through the attention given to the animal world in some of Marie de France’s lays, to questions of race or gender in the popular romances, the medieval world emerges as a dynamic and multifaceted society in ‘screaming colour’. It is no surprise that medievalism – that is, the reception of medieval literature – has been one of the most productive literary forces of all time, still very much alive in the twenty-first century.
The University of Freiburg has a Centre for Medieval Studies (Mittelalterzentrum), which also offers a specific master’s programme in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MARS). Check out the following page to learn more: https://www.mittelalterzentrum.uni-freiburg.de/zum-studium/. Please note, however, that unlike our MELLIT programme, the MARS requires knowledge of the German language.
Why Join Our MELLIT Programme?
Do you spend way too much time interacting with other readers on bookstagram and booktok, trying to keep up with all the latest published books? Is a visit to a new city never complete without finding all its indie bookshops? We have got you covered! The Master of Arts in English Literatures and Literary Theory (MELLIT) at the University of Freiburg is the definitive programme for you. Over the course of four terms, you will have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in literary studies, ranging from the Early Middle Ages to the literatures of the present day, across all genres. While courses on canonical authors like Shakespeare are regularly offered, our course catalogue challenges the limits imposed by Western heteropatriarchal bias: not only will classes focused on women writers be on offer, but also seminars and lectures on BIPOC, queer, and trans narratives. The MELLIT programme also places strong emphasis on literary theory: by the end of your studies, you will be expected to apply a wide array of theories to analyse and interpret literary texts. For instance, you will learn how Critical Race Theory can be a productive tool with which to analyse medieval romances, or how historical narratology enables you to gain a deep understanding of the different affordances of narratives throughout the centuries.
An introductory lecture in literary theory and a follow-up seminar will present you with many of the different approaches in the field, from the earlier New Criticism and Structuralism, to Marxist and Postcolonial Studies, up to Posthumanist and Disability Studies. Three seminars and three lectures will accompany your study of literary history, allowing you to focus on specific topics in each class. A seminar on genre is also part of the programme, centred on prose, poetry or drama either synchronically or diachronically. Finally, as a MELLIT student, you will take part in an excursion to an English-speaking country (for many years, the Shakespearience trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and London has been offered at our Department), participate in a conference, and teach a tutorial accompanying an undergraduate lecture.
Graduating from this master’s programme will open up several career paths for you. Not only is a PhD in literature an option for all MELLIT students upon graduation, but other professions in the cultural and creative industries, such as journalism, broadcasting, editing, and publishing are also possibilities.
For more information on the application, admission and enrolment processes, please check the following page: https://www.anglistik.uni-freiburg.de/studiengaenge/ma/mellit .
Contact
Programme Director
Prof. Dr. Eva von Contzen
eva.voncontzen@anglistik.uni-freiburg.de
MELLIT Coordinator
Dr. Roman Barton
roman.barton@anglistik.uni-freiburg.de
Recommended Prüfungsordnung (study and exam plan)
And if you are still unsure about studying English literature, check out the following graph showing the different career options offered to you
* All the images on the page are taken from wikisource and are, therefore, free of copyright. The graph with English Major career options is offered by W. W. Norton & Company, as indicated, and credits belong to the publishing company.