Department of English

The Department of English was established when the College was founded in 1971, English being one of the six disciplines taught at the time. The aim of the Department has been to promote the learning of English as a language of communication as well as the study of literatures in English.

The flagship of the Department is BA (Honours) English, which is one of the most sought-after undergraduate programmes of the University of Delhi. In addition, the Department offer several Skill Enhancement Courses in Communiation in everyday and professional life, Value Added and Generic Papers related to Literature, Ecology, Films and Women Empowerment.

The Department comprises Faculty educated at esteemed institutions. For more details, please check the People page.

Students of B.A. (Honours) English are exposed to a wide range of literary texts. The course opens up with a strong foundation in classical Indian and European (Greek and Roman) literature. The heart of the syllabus is an intensive, in-depth study of English literature over the Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romantic, Victorian, and Modern periods. The syllabus also moves beyond the canon and takes within its ambit pertinent literatures such as Women’s Writing, Popular Literature, American Literature, Postcolonial Literature and the like. It does not restrict itself to literature written in English, but includes texts available in English translation. This widens the horizon, as students get an exposure to texts translated from Sanskrit and Greek, as well as from modern European languages. Literary movements such as realism, naturalism, modernism and post-modernism are studied as part of the course. Overall, the course helps students develop a multicultural and trans-disciplinary perspective.

The course attracts students from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds. Students learn a great deal from being immersed in this rich environment. In order to encourage creativity and widen their exposure, the department from time to time organises seminars, special lectures and screenings of film adaptations of literary texts.

To enable students to become confident adults equipped to face challenges of the outside world

To help students see themselves as professionals, as part of a discipline with skills and abilities valuable in higher studies as well as in teaching, publishing, business, etc.

To provide students with an ambience of creativity crucial to English studies through theatre productions, readings by professional writers, and their own creative and critical presentation.

The Redstockings Society, founded in 1999, is among the oldest departmental societies in the College. . It engages students to ask searching questions, express their creativity, to understand and be empathic to others’ opinions and to explore new ways of looking at things. The Redstockings also runs a monthly on-line magazine - The Red Stockings Chronicles. It offers a platform for all aspiring student writers to freely give expressions to their creativity.

During the course of studying English as a subject, students acquire proficiency in written and oral communication. They hone their analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to put forth convincing arguments to support their own point of view. The ability to put in team work is also fostered. These skills are highly valued by employers. After graduation, English (Honours) students have the option to choose a career in academic and creative writing. There is also space in fields like journalism, copywriting and advertising, social media, public relations, editing and publishing. Those who are proficient in another language may explore the possibility of becoming translators. Teaching as an avenue is open, after a Masters’ degree, Net being necessary to teach at the higher level and B. Ed being needed at the school level. Students can also opt for a language teaching proficiency course.

Teacher- In- Charge- Dr. Sonali Jain