Literature

Competitive Edge: Literature majors prepare not just for specific careers but for all of life by listening to, learning from, and sometimes arguing with the thinkers and writers who continue to shape our world. We are not content to accept one side of the story. Instead, we must analyze and engage with texts until we understand why a writer or character makes the choices he or she makes.

First, travel the world without leaving the library.

Read and discuss ancient civilizations from translations of fragmented tablets like The Epic of Gilgamesh. Unveil the tragic flaws of Greek playwrights and their heroes such as Euripides and Medea, then compare them to the teachings in Scripture about the fall of humanity. Decipher Middle English in The Canterbury Tales, even though it only slightly resembles the language we recognize today. Follow the epic journey of Sir Gawain or Huckleberry Finn.

Our literature majors study biographies, novels, short stories, and more from around the world, including the Americas, the British Isles, Europe, and Asia. Hear stories from literary history’s riffraff, elite, and forgotten. Learn of the struggles and fortitude of people of color, colonized people, and women who have challenged us to be better. When you are a literature major, you have the chance to learn from and empathize with other people and cultures when you hear from them in their own words.

At Huntington, you will have the chance to not only study literature but to strengthen your personal faith by integrating Christian scholarship with rigorous literary investigation. Professors will encourage you to strengthen your own beliefs so that you are able to confidently and thoughtfully share your own redemptive story with others.

Then, take a physical journey around the world.

Study abroad and take English classes at Oxford, or use one of Huntington University’s other worldwide partnerships to travel even farther. Some of our majors elect to spend a few weeks in the summer or even a full year teaching English in China. 

You can also choose to take advantage of the global missions trips Huntington University students go on during January term and spring break to places like India and Turkey. You’ll get to see some of the places you read about in your literature classes, all while helping orphans or exploring biblical landmarks.