English (1830-1914)

The MSt in English Literature (1830-1914) offers graduate students an opportunity to expand their knowledge and critical understanding of nineteenth-century literature and culture. The responses of writers to cultural change in this period, provoked—and continue to provoke—animated debate about language and literature, aesthetics and politics, and the objects and purposes of cultural criticism.

English Faculty staff teaching on this course have a wide variety of interests, and encourage a wide range of critical perspectives. Areas of special strength include the history and practice of cultural criticism, literature and science, English and world literature, transatlantic cultural exchange, theatre and drama, life writing, material culture, comic and nonsense literature, aestheticism and decadence, poetry and poetics. Individual profiles are available on the English Faculty website.

Structure of the course

The MSt programme comprises four main components spread over three academic terms, through which you have the opportunity to pursue interests within your chosen MSt strand, as well as across period boundaries. In the first two terms, you will take a core course (A), a compulsory course in book history and theories of text (B), and choose two courses from a wide range of options (C). Under the guidance of a specialist supervisor you will also research and write a dissertation, which is submitted at the end of the third term.

The programme is assessed via the submission of four pieces of coursework. In addition to the dissertation, you will submit three essays of 6,000 to 7,000 words – one at the end of the first term, and two at the end of the second term – relating to the ‘B’ and ‘C’ courses that have been taken. All course work will be completed by the end of the second term (Hilary term), leaving the summer term (Trinity term) to complete the dissertation, which is submitted in June. The outcomes of the MSt examination are pass, fail, merit, or distinction. Candidates must achieve a pass mark on each element of the examination to be awarded the MSt.

A. Core course: Literature, Contexts and Approaches

The core course for this MSt is formally non-assessed but compulsory. It aims to further students’ knowledge of the literature in the period 1830-1914, and to deepen their sense of established and emerging critical debates in the field. The course ranges across genres and modes, engaging with theatrical works, poetry, and prose writing, and classes draw on both primary and secondary texts. Each class involves student presentations (on which feedback is provided).

Topics for discussion vary each year, but the following list gives an indication of various topics that have been studied in recent years: ‘Matthew Arnold and the Boundaries of “Culture”’; ‘Science and the Interdisciplinary’; ‘Psychology, Madness, and Sanity’; ‘Nature, Evolution, Environment’; ‘Comedy and Culture’; ‘Theatre, Performance, Performativity’; ‘The Nineteenth-Century Child in Theory and Practice’; and ‘Essayisms’. The central aim of this course is to provide a solid foundation for advanced literary study in the period.

B. Core course: Bibliography, Theories of Text, History of the Book, Manuscript Studies

This is a compulsory, assessed course, taught via a range of lectures and seminars in each of the first two terms. It provides an introduction to bibliography, book history and textual scholarship as they apply to the study of literature. This course is designed to enable you to:

• use and appraise a range of approaches to studying the material form of books;
• understand the process of making books in the machine-press era (1800–1950);
• explore describe the physical features of printed books;
• analyse how the meaning of a text is shaped by its medium (print or manuscript);
• understand the roles of authors, printers, and publishers in the production and distribution of books; and
• apply and evaluate textual critical approaches to dealing with the problems of material texts.

Topics for discussion vary each year, but the following list gives an indication of various topics that have been studied in recent years: ‘Book History and Literary Study’; ‘Manuscript, Print, and Meaning’; ‘Making Books’; ‘Authors, Publishers, and Copyright’; ‘Textual Criticism and Theories of Reading’; and ‘Investigating Illustration’; ‘Serialisation’; and ‘Celebrity’.

C. Special options

The special option courses present an excellent opportunity for you to develop and pursue your research interests, whether related or unrelated to other work undertaken as part of the MSt degree. You are not constrained to follow option courses within the designated period, and indeed, option courses often traverse the boundaries of the broad periods. The courses are taught in weekly, small group seminars. Students read a range of primary and secondary texts in advance and engage in discussion during the seminars, often led each week by one or two student presentations. These are not assessed formally but students are given verbal and written feedback on them.

Examples of past ‘C-course options include: ‘The Body in Victorian Literature, Science, and Medicine’; ‘Senses of Humour: Wordsworth to Ashbery’; ‘Proto-Modernism and the Novel: Joseph Conrad and Nineteenth-Century Contexts’; ‘Women and Drama; ‘Literatures of Empire and Nation, 1880-1935’; and ‘Queer Identities in Fin de Siècle Literature and Culture’. Options change from year to year, depending on the availability of faculty members and on their current teaching and research interests.

D. Dissertation

You will write a 10,000- to 11,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice but related to the work you have been doing over the year. You will be assigned to a member of academic staff who will act as your supervisor, meeting you for a total of four one-hour supervisions over Hilary and Trinity terms to discuss written drafts you have submitted beforehand. Students will have the opportunity to present their dissertation ideas at a one-day conference that they organise in conjunction with the faculty office, usually at the start of Trinity term. Each student on the course gives a 10-minute presentation on their work in progress, with the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers and the course convenors.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of English and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of English.

Many English taught-course students go onto doctoral research, both at Oxford and at other universities worldwide. Other graduates pursue careers in occupations including teaching, journalism, law, publishing and the civil service.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of English Language and Literature

English DPhil

English (1550-1700) MSt

English (1700-1830) MSt

English (1830-1914) MSt

English (1900-Present) MSt

English (​650-1550) MSt

English and American Studies MSt

English Studies (Medieval Period) MPhil

World Literatures in English MSt

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Entry requirements