There can be no doubt that British culture has had a distinct impact on the shaping of US American culture. From our history as a British colony to our current close relationship as international allies, much of how we define what it means to be an “American” is tied to an island across the Pond. Through this course, students will discover the history of the British Empire through literature. Students will be able to make connections between current US American culture and the British Renaissance and analyze how its legacy continues through poetry, drama and fiction.

This Fall course culminates with a trip to London over Winter Break – the setting of many famous works of literature and home to some of the world’s most celebrated authors. The city of London itself will be an embodied physical text that students will use to explore the themes introduced in the course work. Students will read a Shakespeare play and then tour the Globe Theater where the Bard staged so many of his greatest works. Visits to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery, as well as a Harry Potter walking tour are also planned. Students will explore what it means to be US American though a British literary perspective, reflect on the importance of the city of London in the development of Western literature, and have a stronger understanding of the arc of shared histories by participating in this course. *

This course is most appropriate for students interested in English, History, and British culture.

The academic course associated with this program is ENG 398 and 399: From Hamlet to Harry: London Through Lens for 4 total credits. It will be taught by Professors Sarah Creech and Jennifer Daniel.

This is an OPEN program.
The travel component of this course will run for approximately 9-10 days over Winter Break.
*all itinerary items are tentative and subject to change