english studies at queen's brings together a variety of specialist approaches under a single subject heading. our literature modules encourage students to look at a writer's works in the context of the historical period, the cultural background, and the literary genres to which these works belong. they also introduce students to critical theories such as feminism, structuralism and post-structuralism, which are now a significant part of literary studies. our language modules (also available on the linguistics pathway, see page 196) encompass the study of language structure and function, including the day-to-day use of the language and the major influences which have shaped it over the last millennium and a half.