ENGL3013.1 : Did Shakespeare Have a Sister?
Discover the formal features of women’s writing, including the ways women adopt, adapt, and challenge broader literary traditions
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
ENGL3013.1 : Did Shakespeare Have a Sister?
Explore the back-stories of some of the earliest examples of women's writing
Learn about the features of women’s writing, including the ways women adopt, adapt, and challenge broader literary traditions.
Many of the greatest books in history are written by women. Often in times and societies that denigrated or outlawed women’s literacy. Come on a journey with us to uncover the fascinating story behind the stories. Explore the historic female lens and the ways in which women’s writing has influenced many facets of our modern literary landscape.
Together we’ll look at not only the poster girls of women’s literature like Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf and the Bronte sisters, but also at hidden voices and women of historic importance that you may not have heard of before. Get inspired to fill your reading list with fantastic books destined to become your future favourites.
This is the first of four courses that make up the University of Newcastle Women’s Writing program. This course explores the conditions under which women wrote and published as well as how their works were received by their first readers. It provides opportunities to collaborate while discovering key issues and debates in contemporary scholarship on women’s writing.
What topics will you cover?
- The historical and material contexts in which women wrote and shared their work
- Literary, cultural, and sociopolitical themes of women’s writing
- Features of literary language used by women writers, including genre and form
- The status and reception of women’s writing across various geographical locations and time periods
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain and participate in critical and theoretical debates surrounding women's writing
- Discuss cultural, intercultural, and transhistorical concerns relating to women's writing.
- Interpret literary works by women.
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of women’s contributions to literature.
Who will you learn with?
I'm a Senior Lecturer at UON and the author of Doubtful Readers (OUP, 2020). I'm interested in the ways the material forms literary texts take (print, manuscript, digital) shape their meanings.
Who developed the course?
The University of Newcastle Australia
The University of Newcastle is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and 173rd in the world (QS rankings, 2024).
Established
1965Location
Newcastle, AustraliaWorld ranking
Top 180Source: QS World University Rankings 2024
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
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- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
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