Students in English and Comparative Literary Studies courses read works from British, American, and world literary traditions, including those of classical Greece and Rome. We ask our students to become knowledgeable both about well-known writers and about voices traditionally excluded from literary canons. We strive to present literature in a rich historical context of human social, political, and psychological behavior. All ECLS courses involve extensive work in close reading, critical thinking, and analytical writing.

ECLS classes are typically small, emphasizing discussion and the interactive construction of literary knowledge.