Mrs Graves (Head of English)

This week the English department enjoyed attending a virtual lecture run by The University of Sheffield with the A Level Literature students. From the comfort and convenience of our own Sixth Form House, we were able to join with students from all over the country in analysing a text which can be considered both a poem and a song.

The experience allowed students to gain some understanding of the differences between A Level teaching and University lecture style, and was a fantastic opportunity to learn from visiting lecturer and Global Professor, Dr Maisha Wester. Dr Wester’s research interests include Gothic literature and Horror Film, and she also teaches American literature and African American Cultural Studies; her insights into the poem and the topics raised in general offered a fantastic enrichment to the students’ own A level syllabus.

Ellie Castell (Lower Sixth) reflected on the experience: “It was an amazing opportunity to attend a lecture held by The University of Sheffield. We briefly spoke about Sheffield's English Literature course and were told about possible pairings with different subjects as well as modules covered over the three years of study. This was useful for everybody, regardless of whether Sheffield was one of their options or not, showing the versatility of English Literature as a subject. We were then introduced to the lecturer who conducted a highly interactive analysis of the poem Strange Fruit by Abel Meeropol. The extremely emotive topic of racial violence in the early 20th century proved both educational as well as appropriate in linking to the Gothic themes of the texts we are reading both this year and next. Lectures such as these offer such a great insight into what university studies consist of whilst also aiding our A Level subjects and have taught me to take every opportunity possible to widen my knowledge.”