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Faculty of English Language and Literature

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Faculty of English Language and Literature
The Faculty of English Language and Literature is by far the largest English Department in the UK, with over 75 permanent postholders, a further 70 Faculty members, 900 undergraduates and 300 postgraduates. The Faculty has a very distinguished research and teaching record, covering all periods of English Literature. Oxford’s English Faculty is one of the most illustrious Schools of English in the world. Established in 1894, it has numbered among its members some of the most important critics and scholars in the field, including J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Edmund Blunden, Nevill Coghill, Helen Gardner, Richard Ellmann, Terry Eagleton, and many others. We are now home to nearly eighty Professors, Readers, and Lecturers, with about the same number again of Tutors and Research Fellows based in Colleges. At any one time, there are roughly a thousand students studying within the Faculty at undergraduate level, and another three hundred at graduate level in the largest English graduate school in the country. Traditionally teaching and research in the Faculty has covered the entire history of literature in English from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day, along with language studies. More recent growth areas include world literature and film studies.

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Faculty of English Language and Literature

Series in this collection

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Their Finest Hour

Their Finest Hour

A series of podcasts from Oxford University's 'Their Finest Hour' project. Led by the F...
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Valentine's Day at Oxford

Valentine's Day at Oxford

Does love have a scent? Is there maths behind falling in love? What does romance in the...
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Fantasy Literature

Fantasy Literature

Fantasy Literature has emerged as one of the most important genres over the past few de...
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Professor of Poetry

Professor of Poetry

Professor of Poetry Alice Oswald gives her lectures on poetry, language, literature, be...
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Journey of a Molecular Detective; David Sherratt

War and Representation

The series War and Representation features interviews with leading humanities scholars ...
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Journey of a Molecular Detective; David Sherratt

Faculty of English - Introductions

This series brings together lectures given by members of Oxford’s Faculty of English as...
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Modern Fairies

Modern Fairies

In Series One Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield introduce the themes of traditional Bri...
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Edward Lear's Feelings

Edward Lear's Feelings

Written and presented by Matthew Bevis and Jasmine Jagger. This series of 4 short progr...
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The End of Journalism

The End of Journalism

The visiting professor of Creative Media, Stig Abell delivers a series of lectures abou...
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Great Writers Inspire at Home

Great Writers Inspire at Home

PLEASE NOTE: This project has its own website 'Writers Make Worlds' which features much...

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Title Description People Date Captions
Building the digital archive A short interview with the project's technical lead, Catherine Conisbee, on building the digital archive. Catherine Conisbee 23 March, 2023
Anonymous and Onymous A professor of poetry talk by Alice Oswald - Hillary Term 2023 Alice Oswald, Lorna Hutson 27 February, 2023 Captions
Meandering Fortune-Graphs A professor of poetry talk by Alice Oswald - Michaelmas 2022. Alice Oswald 21 February, 2023 Captions
A Postcard from Hitler The Project Lead, Dr Stuart Lee, discusses his most memorable finds on previous crowdsourcing projects Stuart Lee 8 February, 2023
Introducing 'Their Finest Hour' A brief introduction by the project team to 'Their Finest Hour' Stuart Lee, Matthew Kidd, Joseph Quinn 23 January, 2023
The Life and Death of Poetry A distracted walkabout with T.S Eliot and others. Alice Oswald 23 June, 2022 Captions
A Lament for the Earth This episode will address the challenge to nature poetry. Alice Oswald 14 March, 2022 Captions
In Sleep a King This is a sleep-talk on the subject of waking up with Sonnet 87 (by Shakespeare) in the background. This talk was given by Alice Oswald on the 25th November 2021. Alice Oswald 3 March, 2022 Captions
Fantasy Creatures Dr Caroline Batten and Dr Megan Cavell discuss fantastic animals in fantasy text Caroline Batten, Megan Cavell 29 September, 2021 Captions
Is Jin Yong 'China's Tolkien'? A comparison of the Hong Kong author Jin Yong and J. R. R. Tolkien Jonathan Hui 6 September, 2021 Captions
A Conversation with Katherine Langrish Dr Caroline Batten chats with author Katherine Langrish about her book 'From Spare Oom to War Drobe' Caroline Batten, Katherine Langrish 31 August, 2021 Captions
Faith in fantasy literature A short discussion of the role of faith in fantasy literature Katherine Olley 30 July, 2021 Captions
Brian McClellan A discussion of the writer Brian McClellan. Katherine Olley 30 July, 2021 Captions
Arthur Rackham at Trinity College Emma Sillett, Trinity College Librarian, and Dr Caroline Batten explore the Danson Library's collection of rare Arthur Rackham fantasy illustrations. Emma Sillett, Caroline Batten 30 July, 2021 Captions
C. S. Lewis and 'The Wind in the Willows' A discussion of the influence of 'The Wind in the Willows' on fantasy writers - notably C. S. Lewis Simon Horobin 29 July, 2021 Captions
The Last of the Titans This talk explores the myth underlying the action in John Wyndham's `The Kraken Wakes'. Jane Bliss 27 July, 2021 Captions
A Walk around C. S. Lewis's Oxford A biographical tour of C. S. Lewis's Oxford Simon Horobin 23 July, 2021 Captions
William Morris and E. R. Eddison Collections at the Bodleian An interview with Rachael Marsay about the William Morris and E. R. Eddison collections at the Bodleian Library Rchael Marsay, Stuart Lee 23 July, 2021 Captions
Elizabeth Knox A discussion of the writer Elizabeth Knox Alicia Smith 22 July, 2021 Captions
The Saga of Eric the Unlucky The Saga of Eric the Unlucky examines Rider Haggard's use of medieval narrative techniques in his novel Eric Brighteyes. Jane Bliss 20 July, 2021 Captions
Edward Lear and Fantasy Jasmine Jagger provides a short introduction to Edward Lear. Jasmine Jagger 18 July, 2021 Captions
An Interview with Elizabeth Knox An Interview with Elizabeth Knox, author of 'The Absolute Book' Carolyne Larrington, Elizabeth Knox 13 July, 2021 Captions
A Conversation With R. F. Kuang Carolyne Larrington and Caroline Batten interview Rebecca F. Kuang. R. F. Kuang, Carolyne Larrington, Caroline Batten 8 July, 2021 Captions
Werewolves in Medieval Literature vs Modern TV A discussion of werewolves in medieval and modern representations. Minjie Su 6 July, 2021 Captions
Desiring Dragons: Creative and Critical Responses to the Dragon in Beowulf Laura Varnam discusses dragons in fantasy literature. Laura Varnam 6 July, 2021 Captions
Morte D'Arthur Murals in the Oxford Union A visual discussion of the Morte D'Arthur murals in the library of the Oxford Union. Tom Corrick, Caroline Batten 28 June, 2021 Captions
Maria Dahvana Headley on Beowulf Author Maria Dahvana Headley reads from her 2018 novel The Mere Wife, is interviewed by Prof. Carolyne Larrington, and shares drafts from her 2020 translation of Beowulf. This lecture was recorded live at St John’s College, Oxford in November 2018. Carolyne Larrington, Maria Dahvana Headley, David Clark 25 June, 2021 Captions
George MacDonald An introduction to the Victorian fantasist and fairy tale author George MacDonald, who convinced Lewis Carroll to publish Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, inspired C. S. Lewis' Christian writings, and may even have influenced Tolkien's Elves. Caroline Batten, Clare Mulley 25 June, 2021 Captions
Old Norse in the New World: The Mythology and Politics of Immigration and Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' A talk on Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods'. Heather O'Donoghue 23 June, 2021 Captions
Discworld - and the Modern University A short talk introducing Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels and how they reflect the modern University. Andrew Shamel 22 June, 2021 Captions
Susan Cooper A short talk on Susan Cooper. Tom Morcom 22 June, 2021 Captions
Violet Needham Jane Bliss introduces listeners to the work of Violet Needham, a prolific but little-remembered children’s fantasy author, whose book 'The Woods of Windri' draws on the tropes of medieval romances in fascinating ways.ays. Jane Bliss 22 June, 2021 Captions
Daoxuan and Chinese Fantasy Literature A short talk on Daoxuan and medieval Chinese fantasy. Nelson Landry 18 June, 2021 Captions
Tolkien Archive and Exhibition at Bodleian (Part 2) An interview with Catherine McIlwaine on the Tolkien archive at Bodley and the exhibition of 2018 - Part 2 Catherine McIlwaine, Stuart Lee 18 June, 2021 Captions
Tolkien Archive and Exhibition at Bodleian (Part 1) An interview with Catherine McIlwaine on the Tolkien archive at Bodley and the exhibition of 2018 - Part 1. Catherine McIlwaine, Stuart Lee 17 June, 2021 Captions
What is the 'Silmarillion'? This lecture is an introduction to J.R.R. Tolkien's third major work, 'The Silmarillion' (1977), and considers its lengthy development in numerous prose and verse texts over fifty years. Grace Khuri 19 April, 2021 Captions
Lines by Alice Oswald It's fifty years since the publication of From the Life and Songs of the Crow (by Ted Hughes). This is a lecture about lines and other sound barriers and how Crow flies straight through them. Alice Oswald 1 March, 2021
The Literature of Absolute War - Transnationalism and WWII Professor Nil Santiáñez discusses absolute war, total war, and the literature of WWII with Anders Engberg-Pedersen. Anders Engberg-Pedersen, Nil Santiáñez 17 December, 2020
Verse and Prose in Fantasy Literature An analysis of two forms that dominate fantasy literature. Katherine Olley 24 November, 2020 Captions
Guy Gavriel Kay A short introduction to the writer Guy Gavriel Kay. Katherine Olley 24 November, 2020 Captions
Series Two Episode Five: Fairy and Other Transformations Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield discuss the theme of transformation through fairy or other kinds of magic. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Lucy Farrell, Inge Thomson, Mary Craig, Sarah Hesketh, Brian McMahon 22 September, 2020
Series Two Episode Four: Fairies and the Environment Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield talk about a new theme that emerged in the ‘Modern Fairies’ project, fairies as guardians of the environment. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Ben Nicholls, Inge Thomson, Ewan MacPherson, Sarah Hesketh, Patience Agbabi, Ian McLaughlin, Donald McBride, Brian McMahon 22 September, 2020
Series Two Episode Three: Fairies and Children Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield uncover the works inspired by the strange tale of the Green Children and the changeling legend. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Terri Windling, Brian McMahon, Marry Waterson, Patience Agbabi, Martin Carthy 22 September, 2020
Series Two Episode Two: Fairy Time and Space Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield explore the ways in which the project artists engaged with the fairy world as parallel and yet distinct from our world, and the ways in which time warps in the other world. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Barney Morse Brown, Ewan MacPherson, Inge Thomson, Marry Waterson 22 September, 2020
Series Two Episode One: Introducing the Modern Fairies Project Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield introduce the artists and outcomes of the Modern Fairies Project. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield 22 September, 2020
What Tolkien learnt from 'Beowulf': Representations of Evil Monsters and evil in Tolkien Rafael J. Pascual 16 July, 2020 Captions
Interview with Water This is the first ever online lecture by a Professor of Poetry at Oxford. In the lecture, Alice Oswald explores the strange connection between water and grief. Alice Oswald 8 July, 2020 Captions
Sylvia Townsend Warner Carolyne Larrington introduces the writing of Sylvia Townsend Warner. Carolyne Larrington 26 May, 2020 Captions
Ursula K. Le Guin A brief introduction to the writer Ursula K. Le Guin. Caroline Batten 13 May, 2020 Captions
T. H. White A brief introduction to the writer T. H. White. Gabriel Schenk 12 May, 2020 Captions
Diana Wynne Jones A brief introduction to the writer Diana Wynne Jones. Gabriel Schenk 12 May, 2020 Captions
Why 'Game of Thrones' Matters 'Game of Thrones' and storytelling. Carolyne Larrington 12 May, 2020 Captions
Re-Enchanted: The Rise of Children’s Fantasy Literature in the Twentieth Century A guest lecture by Dr Maria Cecire (Bard College) discussing children's fantasy literature. Maria Cecire 12 May, 2020 Captions
Interview: Catherine Butler An Interview with Dr Catherine Butler, author of the book 'Four British Fantasists'. Catherine Butler, Will Brockbank 12 May, 2020 Captions
Alan Garner A brief introduction to the British fantasy writer, Alan Garner. Felix Taylor 12 May, 2020 Captions
Approaching Fantasy Literature A short introduction to reading and studying fantasy literature. Stuart Lee 12 May, 2020 Captions
H. P. Lovecraft A brief introduction to the writer, H. P. Lovecraft. Stuart Lee 12 May, 2020 Captions
The First World War, India and Empire Professor Santanu Das discusses the complexity of commemoration, the messiness of history and the role of scholarly emotion with Kate McLoughlin. Kate McLoughlin, Santanu Das 27 March, 2020
America’s War Culture since 9/11 In this episode associate professor Patrick Deer discusses his forthcoming book We Are All Embedded: Understanding America’s War Culture since 9/11. Patrick Deer, Christine Strandmose Toft 17 March, 2020
The Art of Erosion Inaugural Lecture of Alice Oswald, Professor of Poetry, held at the University of Oxford Exam Schools. Alice Oswald 9 December, 2019
Will War still need us? What Future for Agency in War? Will War still need us? What Future for Agency in War? - an interview with Christopher Coker Solveig Gade, Christopher Coker 27 November, 2019
The Age of Amok - an interview with Joseph Vogl Professor Joseph Vogl discusses the phenomenon of ‘amok’ with Anders Engberg-Pedersen. Joseph Vogl, Anders Engberg-Pedersen 4 November, 2019
Philosophy and Nuclear War - an interview with Elaine Scarry Professor Scarry and Jens Bjering discuss philosophy and nuclear war. Elaine Scarry, Jens Bjering 4 November, 2019
War, Aesthetics, Politics – an interview with Vivienne Jabri Professor Vivienne Jabri discusses the relationship between war, aesthetics and politics in relation to contemporary warfare with Christine Strandmose Toft. Vivienne Jabri, Christine Strandmose 4 November, 2019
When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer Simon Armitage delivers his final lecture as Oxford Professor of Poetry, reflecting on his own influences as a poet. Simon Armitage 17 May, 2019
Theatre, 1660-1760 - The Arrival of the Actress David Taylor on the arrival of female actors on the stage. David Taylor 14 March, 2019
Theatre, 1660-1760 - Restoration and Change David Taylor lectures on the reopening of the theatres in the 1660s. David Taylor 14 March, 2019
Race and Empire, 1660-1760 Ruth Scobie lectures on race and empire, 1660-1760. Ruth Scobie 14 March, 2019
Drama and the Theatre, 1660-1760 Abigail Williams lectures on the staging of Restoration drama. Abigail Williams 14 March, 2019
Literature and Gender, 1660-1760 Kathleen Keown considers representations of gender in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Kathleen Keown 7 March, 2019
Manuscript and Print, 1660–1760 Carly Watson outlines the material forms in which literary texts circulated between 1660 and 1760. Carly Watson 7 March, 2019
What is a Literary Period? Clare Bucknell considers how we define a literary period. Clare Bucknell 7 March, 2019
Nineteenth-Century Stuff - Dickens, Paperwork and Paper Sorrows Sophie Ratcliffe investigates the material culture of the Victorians, using examples from Charles Dickens. Sophie Ratcliffe 7 March, 2019
What is a War Poem? Kate McLoughlin explores how we might define a war poem. Kate McLoughlin 7 March, 2019
Diaries as Literature - The Case of Virginia Woolf Michael Whitworth considers whether diaries are literature, looking particularly at the diaries of Virginia Woolf. Michael Whitworth 7 March, 2019
Character in Modern Drama Kirsten Shepherd-Barr investigates 'character' in Modern Drama Kirsten Shepherd-Barr 7 March, 2019
Brilliant Paradoxes and Corrosive Epigrams; or Why Oscar Wilde Went to Trial Sos Eltis looks at Oscar Wilde’s 1895 trial. Sos Eltis 4 March, 2019
Loathly Ladies Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield talk about the loathly lady: the hideous hag who knows the secret that the hero seeks, and whom he must learn how to respect. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Brian McMahon 26 February, 2019
Fairies, Children and Changelings Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield talk about the strange interest that fairies take in human infants, and the plight of children who stumble into this world, and can’t get home. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Brian McMahon, Marry Waterson, Ben Nicholls, Barney Morse-Brown. 19 February, 2019 Captions
Helpful Fairies Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield discuss how fairies and humans can co-operate and assist each other. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Brian McMahon, Lucy Farrell, Ewan McPherson 12 February, 2019
Fairy Wives and Fairy Lovers Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield talk about love and marriage between humans and fairies. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Brian McMahon 8 February, 2019 Captions
Introducing Fairies and Fairyland Carolyne Larrington and Fay Hield introduce the Modern Fairies project and talk about traditional imaginings of fairyland. Carolyne Larrington, Fay Hield, Brian McMahon 28 January, 2019 Captions
'Undisfigured by False or Vicious Ornaments' - Clarity and Obscurity in the Age of Formlessness The Hilary Term Professor of Poetry lecture, delivered by Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage. Simon Armitage 28 January, 2019
Tales of Love and History - James Ivory in Conversation Oscar-winning American film-maker James Ivory will talk about his experiences with the legendary Merchant Ivory productions, in partnership with producer Ismail Merchant and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. James Ivory, Richard Parkinson, Katherine Harloe, Jennifer Ingleheart 18 December, 2018
Damned if he Does and Damned if he Doesn't? Dilemmas and Decisions in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Simon Armitage lectures on the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Simon Armitage 23 November, 2018
Free Reading Professor Lloyd Pratt delivers his inaugural lecture as Drue Heinz Professor of American Literature. Lloyd Pratt 22 May, 2018
Unseasonal Produce: Winter Words in Various Moods and Metres Simon Armitage delivers the Trinity 2018 poetry lecture entitled "Unseasonal Produce: Winter Words in Various Moods and Metres". Simon Armitage 17 May, 2018
Reading Bass Culture On 26 April 2018, Linton Kwesi Johnson read from a selection of his poetry and discussed with Professor Paul Gilroy the inter-generational and transatlantic relationships that had nurtured it. Linton Kwesi Johnson, Paul Gilroy, Louisa Layne 16 May, 2018 Captions
‘Edward Lear’s Vision’, by Professor Matthew Bevis A talk given at the Ashmolean Museum on Edward Lear’s life, art, and poetry. Matthew Bevis 10 May, 2018
Weeping 'He weeps by the side of the ocean, He weeps on the top of the hill', the poet wrote of himself in 'How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear'. Jasmine Jagger 4 April, 2018
Laughter Lear once spoke of 'this ludicrously whirligig life which one suffers from first and laughs at afterwards.' Matthew Bevis 4 April, 2018
Disgust This programme explores appetite, desire, and disgust in Lear. Jasmine Jagger 4 April, 2018
Wonder This programme examines different meanings of 'wonder' in Lear - as both a positive and a negative emotion, and as something in between. Jasmine Jagger 4 April, 2018
Introduction This programme introduces Lear and outlines the structure of the programmes. Matthew Bevis 4 April, 2018
Like, Elizabeth Bishop Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage delivers a lecture on the american writer and poet Elizabeth Bishop. Simon Armitage 20 March, 2018
Creative Media Lecture 02 In the second lecture, Stig Abell discusses the future of modern and social journalism. Stig Abell 12 March, 2018
Creative Media Lecture 01 In the first lecture, Stig Abell discusses the pros and cons of old fashioned journalism as well as modern forms of journalism such as social media. Stig Abell 12 March, 2018
Does love have a scent? Love is in the air - or is it? Companies are advertising that they can find you love through the power of scent! But are pheromones a chemical way to find your true love? Or is it just a myth? Tristram Wyatt 6 February, 2018
'Art and Attunement', by Professor Rita Felski, University of Virginia and Southern Denmark In this talk Rita Felski reported at new research on how we engage with works of art across a broad range (including cat videos) and considered the puzzling question of why we are drawn by some pieces of music, art and literature, and not by others. Rita Felski 19 December, 2017 Captions
The Two Gentlemen of Verona Professor Emma Smith gives the last of her 2017 Shakespeare lectures on his early comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona. Emma Smith 15 December, 2017 Captions

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