From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column underscores and outlines various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and serves as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
Inspired by last week’s column on winter literature, this week’s column focuses on a season many of us may already be dreaming of as the cold weather settles in many parts of the world, namely spring.
Some examples of notable writers who wrote about springtime weather include Walt Whitman, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and William Shakespeare.
What
Some examples of springtime-focused works include Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Sonnet 98 by William Shakespeare.
Where
These texts take place in eastern Canada, the east coast of the United States, and Great Britain.
When
These works take place in the 17, 20, and 21-centuries.
Why
These lighthearted texts may be of interest to AU students who are looking forward to warmer weather, as well as those interested in the symbolism behind springtime, including renewal and rebirth after a long, cold winter.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to Spring Literature are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 324: Shakespeare I and ENGL 325: Shakespeare II, two senior-level, three-credit courses, which serves as “an introduction to the age of Shakespeare and his plays” and “an introduction to the study of the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare, focusing on his later works (tragedies, tragicomedies, and romances).” (Note both these courses require prerequisites, including ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays or professor approval.)
Students may also be interested in ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays, a junior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces forms of poetry, with a wide variety of examples from Shakespeare to Atwood, examining themes, structure, style, and imagery.” (Although no prerequisites are listed, students are strong encouraged to have completed ENGL 211: Prose Forms prior to registration.)
Finally, students may be interested in ENGL 492: Research and Writing Projects in Literature, a senior-level, here-credit course, in which students “may wish to focus on a particular literary theme, idea, or theoretical problem.” (Please note that ENGL 211, ENGL 212, plus two senior-level ENGL courses, and professor permission is required to register for this course.). Happy reading!