M1 & M2 in LLCER – Specialization in English and American Studies : Literatures in English

Literatures in English : (Research Team: LARCA – UMR 8225)

As its name implies, this program specializes in literatures in English. The objective is to broaden students’ horizons in literatures in English by encouraging them to move beyond the parameters of history, culture and genre. Our seminars allow students to openly discuss the history of literary forms, the complex connections between literature and the context in which it was produced, “canonical” literature and newly defined literary forms.

We will examine literary elements and the creation of literariness in their cultural, esthetic, epistemological and larger economic contexts. Then, we will see how literariness is aligned with writing, and how the imagination of an era, an author and an esthetic movement make up a language. Depending on the seminar’s topics, we may also take trips relating to plastic art or to study the connection between text and images. Students will select their seminars based on their choice of American or British literature, after consulting with their thesis director.

Download the course brochure here

More information

PRE-REQUISITES

Compulsory pre-requisite

A degree in Anglophone Studies (or equivalent, submitted to the agreement of the Admissions Committee).

Expectations

Excellent oral and written English (C1 minimum). If you’re not from a EU country and not from an anglophone country, you’ll need to provide an internationally recognized language test certificate (eg scores: 7 for IELTS, 100 for TOEFL, 130 for Duolingo, or the Cambridge Proficiency certificate).

Ability to argue a point in English; excellent knowledge of the cultures and literatures of the anglophone world. Autonomy and self-reliance.

French Language

French proficiency is not required for the Research Programmes, but a basic command of French is recommended. 

General criteria for admission

The Admissions Commission will pay particular attention to the student’s undergraduate curriculum and grades (especially third-year results), and to the cover letter, which must be written in English. Extra-curricular activities (projects, internships, volunteer work…) may also be taken into account. 

Guidelines to help you write your cover letter

Make sure you don’t write a standard chatGPT-style cover letter. Avoid clichés and instead try to give an idea of who you are, what your interests are. You can try answering these kinds of questions:

• why do you wish to attend this programme ? What aspects of the syllabus interest you most?
• what types of objects are you most interested in (fiction, poetry, theatre, new literatures, text and image, etc.), and why. Try not to stick to your tastes, but explain why you’re interested in this or that genre.
• What are your cultural practices and activities (which kinds of books, podcasts, cultural venues, museums, books, video games, etc.). Here too, explain why.
• Think of thesis subjects you might like to explore: choose two topics and describe them in a few lines each (what medium, what period, what corpus, what issue…), and sketch the approach you would adopt (what type of sources would be relevant, what methodologies, what theoretical works?).

Note that faculty members will help you find and formulate your final thesis topic across the first semester. Your thesis advisor will then supervise your research.

• Are you a native English-speaker, or have you visited or lived in anglophone countries? If so, for how long?