Course Objectives

This course aims to provide the student with an appreciation of texts selected from a variety of representative and influential modern authors.

Students will be provided with requisite contextual information regarding biographical, social and political backgrounds to assist them with the development of the skills and vocabulary that are needed to foster competent and persuasive literary interpretation.

Course materials are available below (you will need to log in to view these materials).

Course Comments

"Mark Allen is a wonderfully engaging and entertaining teacher who has a lot to offer on the literature presented in the class. This is one of the best English classes I have taken and the reading selection was very interesting and thought provoking." Hannah Cross, Fall 2009

"Great course! Professor Allen was personable, stimulating and able to break the material down well. Perfect amount of readings - allowed us to go into depth on each piece while moving at a good pace." Anon., Fall 2009

"Most enjoyable 4 hours that one could spend in a classroom! Professor Allen is insightful and presents it in such a way that you find yourself getting just as excited about the material. Great poetry selection as well!" Anon., Fall 2009

“Absolutely wonderful! Informative, engaging, enthralling and quite hilarious. If Mark ceases to teach in this fashion, track him down and cage him.”  Christopher Bruno, Spring 2008

“This was surprisingly one of the best literature courses, especially where poety is concerned, I have ever taken. I was quite impressed with Prof. Allen’s skill as a lecturer and his engaging and perceptive comments on the works we read.”  Anon., Fall 2008

Faculty Information

Mark Allen has taught on the Boston University London programme since 1996 and also taught on the Boston University Oxford honours programme from 1987-2008. He holds an MA in English literature from Mansfield College, Oxford and has tutored in several Oxford University colleges, as well has having held a lecturing post at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He also spent two years teaching in Italy and lectured at the University of Venice. He has published reviews and articles on Romanticism in several academic journals and also worked for the Oxford English Dictionary as an historical reader specialising in the works of Coleridge.

Course Syllabus and Materials

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