English Literature Taster Days

We are excited to announce two upcoming Y12 English Literature Taster Days, which will take place at our City Campus, in March. Both events are free and have limited spaces and therefore is first come first served. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up to the event/s. (Please note that schedules and timings may be subject to change)

 Please find the schedules for the events below:

A Level Shakespeare Day - Love Through The Ages: William Shakespeare’s Othello (Wednesday 4th March)-PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL.

 William Shakespeare’s Othello tells a dark and complex story about love, hate, racism, and violence. Working with Northumbria University academic experts in Shakespearean drama, Year 12 students will experience a sample lecture on key themes and ideas in the play and participate in bespoke interactive seminar activities that make use of original academic research and cutting-edge critical approaches to this fascinating text.

 10:00  Welcome and Lecture: Love, Race and Racism in Othello: Stage & Screen

 12:00  Lunch Break and Optional Campus / Library Tours

 13:00  Seminars and Review

 15:00  Finish

‘This is Not a Love Story: Wuthering Heights, “Romance” and Heathcliff’s Violence’ (Wednesday 18th March)

The iconic reputation of Wuthering Heights as a “romantic” story can distract us from the novel’s overtly disturbing content that Brontë confronted her nineteenth-century readers with. From the moment Heathcliff hangs a dog, we know he’s trouble. This schools taster day will offer a close reading of Emily Brontë’s famous novel Wuthering Heights (1847) with a particular focus on the gender dynamics at play in the novel and Heathcliff’s unsettling violence. Teaching sessions will consider adaptations of the novel that present Catherine and Heathcliff as romantic characters and we will examine how these adaptations remove the reader/ viewer from the uncomfortable themes that Brontë’s novel asks us to reflect upon. Students will think about the importance of reading a literary text closely, rather than relying on what we think we know about canonical work.

 10:00  Welcome and Lecture

 12:00  Lunch Break and Optional Campus / Library Tours

 13:00  Seminars and Review

 15:00  Finish

Lunch is not included in the day however, there are facilities for students to purchase food on campus, alternatively you may bring your own with you.

If you have questions regarding the event please do not hesitate in contacting Professor Katy Shaw at katy3.shaw@northumbria.ac.uk.

Please use the form below to sign up. Teachers may attend (please do not sign up using student form) and we welcome groups, although bookings need to be made by individual students.