Degree in English Literature?

[Shakey1500]

Hello, I'm 42 and thinking of doing a degree. I'm not aspiring to attain one for career advancement. More a whimsical longing for one to prove I can do it. Ideally I would like to do a degree in Performing Arts but am unable to travel anywhere which I believe that particular degree would require.

So I was thinking English Literature. Has anyone done this degree? What should I expect? I will, of course, be researching online also, just wanted any first hand experiences etc.

Thanks

Cultural materialist, eh? I shall remember that one, sounds good.

I understand what you mean about the 'everything is subjective' issue. I think perhaps talking to undergraduates would be helpful in that respect too (ok, I admit, I just want the OP to love her course and come join the dark side ).

Thought provoking reading. I'd never considered my approach to devouring a text et al. I imagine (being an actor) I will be totally absorbed in a character, less interested in the decriptive aspects and quite analytical of motives behind the tale, as it were.

Actually, on the subject of "reading" did anyone follow a recent (and there may have been a previous) thread where posters were discussing whether they "heard" a voice in their head whilst reading? If I remember correctly there was a tenuous "litmus test" surrounding the book Atonement (Ian McEwan). Those that did hear voices (own and a character) disliked the book and those that didn't hear voices loved it. How does this stack up with whoever is still following this thread? I am the former, disliked the book (and the film actually, though that has more to do with Keira Knightly's acting which is a whole other thread ) And will this help or hinder me do you think? I'm also a Libran (I'm stuffed aren't I?!)

I'm hoping not to put off reading for life :) In fact, I can't imagine anything further from the truth. Since having DS (4) my reading has dropped dramatically. Aside from learning lines that is, which doesn't count. Time was I would peruse the top ten bestseller list and visibly quake if I wasn't reading at least two of them. Those were the days...

I didn't see that thread, but it sounds really interesting. I sometimes hear a voice, but often I have a strong sense of where the novel is taking place, visually. I think it is interesting when looking at something like the difference between one production of a play and another to be able to get really deep into why you find one version works well whereas another just feels forced.

I too really enjoy looking at character and persona and all those different layers you get - something I loved working on was how writers in different times have such different ideas about how to get an audience reaction, and how realistic characters have to be. We got to work on Shakespeare and we were looking at how there are those speeches that are, in a way, totally unnatural (because you'd never just break out into speech in some of those situations), yet in another way they engage members of the audience in a way a totally realistic reaction never could.

I think this is why I have a sneaky preference for theatre over realistic film ... part of me feels like it's just too easy when you have the option of a close-up of someone's terrified face - so much more exciting when an actor has to present that same emotion to people sitting right in the back row of a theatre. IMO.

Sorry, I ran away with this a bit but I think it is all fascinating.

Oh rant away please! I could discuss this for days

I adore Shakespeare, the language utterly enthralls me. Previous to last year, I had only acted snippets of it (for schools, helping with Sats etc) and I was delighted, but extremely nervous, to get the part of playing Viola in Twelfth Night. I looked at the script and thought, I am NEVER going to learn all that. But of course you do and it's such a joy. It's so mesmerising, rhythmic. One thing I learnt through a workshop which was valuable was that the Shakesperian actors only had their scripts and their cue lines. Doing it through a workshop, in that manner, really makes you listen to what's being said as if it's the first time you've heard it (which of course it is) thereby making your reactions more impulsive and realistic. I realise you probably know all this

Funny you should mention a preference for theatre. That's absolutely my stance. It irks me irrationally that some performances are lauded as magnificent when the reality is that it probably took about 20 odd takes to realise that perfection. On stage, it's a one shot deal, and more importantly REAL. During Twelfth Night we did three outdoor performances in different castle grounds where, of course, there is changing acoustics and weather to contend with. It's great, but having to project the voice really loses any intimacy between characters. We were all happier back in the theatre where you can really interact with each other and the audience.

Also on screen, lines can be forgotten and re-done. Not on stage. You muck it up you've got to get out of it, there and then. And it simply can't happen in Shakespeare either! Nary a paraphrase to be got in, impossible. But it's seat of your pants stuff.

The problem is though that if the assumption is that you're going to (and that you want to) engage with the characters and hear them speak etc (which I do do too), it can lead to a situation in seminars where the fact that perhaps the characters didn't speak to students, or they didn't find it so engaging, means they have nothing to say (or just didn't finish the book, even).

I do think to an extent it helps to stop thinking of reading as a leisure activity, as sad and counter-intuitive as that sounds.

Yes, that's true. And you can always say to yourself, ok, I really don't think I get on with eighteenth century literature/the character in this novel/narrative poetry' ... now, I'll accept that for the moment and think, why is that, and what do critics seem to be saying about it all?

I know, myself, I am unlikely ever to enjoy eighteenth century lit (sorry, eighteenth century!), but learning about it turned out to be really useful in helping me understand how texts shape and are shaped by their contexts, and why I do love some other literatures and texts so much.

You have to do the legwork first to get back to the enjoyment, though!

Acting Olivia sounds wonderful ... I can't act for toffee, but wow! I think you're so right about teh way the real-time pressure makes it so special. I love Shakespeare.

Well I personally can't bear Jane Austen and all her sardonic mumbling about - just SAY WHAT IT IS WOMAN!

I quite like Jane Austen and will happily read it for pleasure - but I'd never want to write essays about her writing!

You get a sense I think for what you enjoy and can get interested in analyzing - and if you've started into comparing one version to another or one medium to another when you're looking at plays, IMO you're already getting into the right position to enjoy analyzing it all.

Oh honestly, I got through all of four pages of Mansfield Park today, which could have been summed up in half a paragraph if she wasn't being so effortfully witty all the time!

Then again lots of the novels I wrote about for my thesis weren't necessarily ones I rate highly - just that they were relevant to the argument.

Poor Jane. She is a bit marmite, isn't she?

I can remember finding the stuff I study now clunky and dry ... but I can't remember why any more!

I forgot to say, the other excellent reason to do an Eng Lit degree is because thereafter, people will assume you have read everything and you can avoid disapproving comments about your reading of chicklit/watching of crap films/ignorance of bestselling highbrow novels. It's great.

I did English Lit straight out of school and I do feel it has stood me in good stead as regards being able to analyse things quickly.

Honestly, it has put me off reading. The pure joy I used to get has vanished. But I learnt so much I wouldn't have otherwise.

Also, I think Eng Lit is pretty good for getting some knowledge of other subjects too - not claiming an in-depth knowledge or anything, but it's one of few subjects that will take you into psychology, philosophy, economics, medicine, evolutionary theory, politics and anthropology.... (feel free to add to!)

And History, and religion!

(I am funded under history)

Oh of course, yes! Duh....