About the Section of Literature and Cultural Studies

Literary and cultural studies deals with the theory, history and interpretation of literature as a rich store of human knowledge and a motor of cultural change. In English literary studies, at the Department of English Studies, the focus is initially on literature from Great Britain and Ireland and also on selected other English-language literatures, in particular Canadian literature. Our section offers excellent teaching in literary and cultural studies following a well-structured curriculum in the Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral programs, including the teacher training program.

The curriculum offers a broad introduction to the theory and history of English literature and culture as well as in-depth studies in selected areas. The section's literary research enjoys an excellent international reputation and includes areas such as narratology, intermediality research (in collaboration with the Center for Intermediality in Graz, CIMIG), reception theory (especially aesthetic illusion/immersion), (auto)biography research, dramaturgy, ecocriticism, medieval, Renaissance and Shakespearean studies, postcolonial studies, and especially Canadian studies.