Discover London: Literature of the Witch
Examine wide-ranging works of English literature-mostly by women writers–that portray the lives of rebellious women, and particularly those who seek uncommon or magical means for personal empowerment, and in so doing, confront cultures that persecute or alienate those who defy patriarchal ideals of passive femininity. Attend theatrical productions at the Globe Theatre in London and in Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, and see the sites you will read about firsthand. While based in London, this class will also visit Cornwall, to tour a sublime seascape and ruined castle associated with Morgan Le Fay and Merlin. Moreover, you will write fiction in response to your experiences, participating in the ongoing tradition of writers inspired by the history of the witch trials and the enduring figure of the witch (e.g. Sylvia Townsend Warner, Virginia Woolf, Maryse Condé, Maggie O’Farrell) and developing your skills as a creative observer and writer.
Summer Session I: May 27th - June 28th, 2025 |
| Overview |
Examine wide-ranging works of English literature-mostly by women writers–that portray the lives of rebellious women, and particularly those who seek uncommon or magical means for personal empowerment, and in so doing, confront cultures that persecute or alienate those who defy patriarchal ideals of passive femininity. Attend theatrical productions at the Globe Theatre in London and in Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, and see the sites you will read about firsthand. While based in London, this class will also visit Cornwall, to tour a sublime seascape and ruined castle associated with Morgan Le Fay and Merlin. Moreover, you will write fiction in response to your experiences, participating in the ongoing tradition of writers inspired by the history of the witch trials and the enduring figure of the witch (e.g. Sylvia Townsend Warner, Virginia Woolf, Maryse Condé, Maggie O’Farrell) and developing your skills as a creative observer and writer. |
| Location |
London is one of Europe's largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Its famous sites include Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, and Westminster Abbey. With a multitude of art galleries, museums, and pubs, London is endlessly interesting. The underground rail "tube" system provides easy access to all parts of the city. Students may conveniently visit Canterbury, Oxford, Bath, Dover, and other destinations (Scotland and Wales) via the excellent British railway system. |
| Program |
ENG 302 (D)/CRW 286/ WGS 377
This co-taught 3-credit course will introduce you to wide-ranging works of English literature-mostly by women writers–that portray the lives of rebellious women, and particularly those who seek uncommon or magical means for personal empowerment, and in so doing, confront cultures that persecute or alienate those who defy patriarchal ideals of passive femininity. In reading works that span the centuries between the medieval and the contemporary, we’ll be discussing how and why the witch came to be a central feminist archetype. At the same time, the course will be a writing-intensive experience that bridges critical-creative divides, in asking you to write reading responses and to compose and workshop your own short story on the figure of the witch. This framework draws upon Dr. Joanna Ruocco’s training in fiction and her accomplishments as a novelist and experimental writer, and Dr. Sarah Hogan’s expertise as a scholar of British Renaissance literature.
You will be challenged to track a powerful, mutable female archetype across centuries and genres, and to consider the literary and social construction of identity through focus on the witch as a marginal and maligned figure and also as a figure of resistance. You will do this outside of your home contexts; this defamiliarization will help you build knowledge in exciting new ways. Traveling to the UK (London, Cornwall, and Stratford-upon-Avon) will enrich your understanding of textual materials. We’ll attend theatrical productions at the Globe Theatre in London and in Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, and see the sites you will read about firsthand. We’ll also visit Cornwall to tour a seascape and ruined castle associated with Morgan Le Fay and Merlin. Moreover, you will write fiction in response to your experiences, participating in the ongoing tradition of writers inspired by the history of the witch trials and the enduring figure of the witch (e.g. Sylvia Townsend Warner, Virginia Woolf, Maryse Condé, Maggie O’Farrell) and developing your skills as a creative observer and writer.
This course will count toward the English major (and for pre-1800 credit in the major), the WGS major, the Creative Writing minor, or as Division II (Literature) credit.
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| Faculty |
Dr. Sarah Hogan
Assistant Professor of English
336-758-5383
hogansa@wfu.edu
Dr. Joanna Ruocco
Assistant Professor English
336-758-5383
ruoccoj@wfu.edu |
| Accommodation |
Residence halls
NOTE: All students participating in the WFU London: Literature of the Witch program are required to live in program-provided housing. Housing accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available. |
| Excursions |
We’ll be based in London and many of our activities will take place there. We will see productions of two important plays on witches (ideally, one by Shakespeare and one by Caryl Churchill). Our stay in London will also include a tour of the Globe Theatre and a visit to the British Library to view Renaissance broadsides on witchcraft. Additionally, we plan to lead a “nightwalk” through London when we read Matthew Beaumont’s cultural history of the practice.
We also plan to visit important sites in the history of witchcraft trials (like Essex) that are the settings for some of the works of literature we’ll be reading. These visits will involve museum trips but will center on two toured walks -- one through the Chilterns (the setting of Lolley Willows), and one through Manningtree and Mistley (the setting of The Witchfinder’s Sister) -- since walking and mobility (in these regions and ways) feature as prominent tropes in literature on the witch and will give students experiential fodder for their creative writing projects. We will also travel to coastal Cornwall to view the sites of Arthurian legend and here students will also write about the objects, art, and ideas we encounter in the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft.
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| Selection |
Good academic standing
Interest in the subject matter
Maturity |
| Costs |
The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:
Program Fee - Usually covers room, in-country travel, excursions, some meals and other costs associated with the program.
Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The 2024 summer rate was $9050/per credit hour. Expect a small increase for Summer 2025.
Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.
Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students' spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.
Program Fee (Estimated) - TBD
Tuition (3 hrs) - $2,850
Airfare (estimated) - $1,700
Personal Expenses (estimated) - $1,915
Estimated total cost - TBD |
| Scholarships |
Scholarships are available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies. |
| Visa & Passport |
Passport Information
Students need to check their passport's expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program's end date.
Students going on a summer program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-February of the following year.
US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State's passport website for information on this process.
Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country's passport office.
Visa Information
If you are a US citizen, you most likely will not require a visa for your summer abroad program. If you do, details will be shared with you by GPS. Non-US passport holders should check with their host country's embassy or consulate to find out if a visa is required for their program or not. |
| Contact |
Dr. Sarah Hogan
Assistant Professor of English
336-758-5383
hogansa@wfu.edu
Dr. Joanna Ruocco
Assistant Professor English
336-758-5383
ruoccoj@wfu.edu
Tyler Favale
Study Abroad Advisor
Center for Global Programs and Studies
336-758-4072
favalet@wfu.edu |
| Testimonials |
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