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Literature Classes NYC

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Explore the captivating world of literature in the heart of NYC with a range of classes covering diverse genres, from classic literature and poetry to modern fiction and creative writing, where participants can enhance their understanding and appreciation for the written word.

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Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 45 Main St , Brooklyn, NY

Ovid begins his Metamorphoses, “My soul would speak of bodies changed into new forms,” and it is the great theme of physical transformation that unites the poem’s many myths: humans becomes animals and plants, and vice versa; humans becomes stones and constellations; and humans change their sex. No poem from antiquity has so influenced Western European literature and art. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, and Dante creatively raided Ovid’s...

(33) All levels 21 and older
$335

4 sessions

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+3350 pts
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Critical Ancient Greek (Online)

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom

Explore the foundational texts of ancient Greek thought through language acquisition and critical analysis in this immersive program. Guided by experts in philosophy, literature, and psychoanalysis, participants will delve into Greek grammar, syntax, and rhetoric while examining the cultural contexts and enduring concepts that shape philosophical and political discourse.

(33) All levels 21 and older
$1,323

12 sessions

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+13230 pts
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Literature B2/C1/C2 (Advanced/Expert)

French Institute Alliance Française See all classes by this school @ 22 E 60th St, New York, NY

Immerse yourself in the rich world of French literature with this advanced course, exploring classic and contemporary works by Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Annie Ernaux, Boris Vian, and more. Through in-depth analysis and discussion, you'll gain a deeper understanding of literary themes and styles, enhancing your language proficiency while discovering the cultural and philosophical significance of these masterpieces.

(13) All levels 18 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$449

10 sessions

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Signal and Noise: An Introduction to Statistics

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 247 West 37th St, New York, NY

How do numbers relate to the world? What insights can we derive from data? How do we separate signal from noise? This course is an introduction to statistical thinking and its applications to data analysis at a level accessible to a broad audience with no prior statistical background.  We’ll learn and make intuitive the fundamental methods and concepts of data quantification: linear regression, logistic regression, probability distribution,...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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Kant’s Critical Aesthetics

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 75 Broad St, New York, NY

Art was anything but peripheral to Kant’s philosophical project. In judging a thing to be beautiful, Kant maintained, we bridge “the great gulf” of nature and human freedom, and prepare ourselves to “love something, even nature, without interest”—that is, exercise moral judgment. Immensely influential in its time, the so-called “third Critique” inspired and gave energy to both German Idealism, which attempted to provide a rational...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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Feminist Science Fiction

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 3009 Broadway, New York, NY

The world is not usually imagined for the benefit of women. What can feminist science fiction tell us about these oppressive arrangements and how the world might be otherwise? What makes a work of science fiction feminist? From utopia to dystopia, satire to space opera, in what ways does science fiction hold up a mirror to difficult realties? This course offers a selective introduction to critical themes in twentieth and twenty-first century...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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Jorge Luis Borges: Mysticism, Fiction, and Politics

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 612 W 116th St, New York, NY

Jorge Luis Borges’ fiction is uniquely powerful for its captivating amalgam of political, mystical, and metaphysical themes. In this course, an introduction to Borges’ most canonical works, we’ll read his great short story collections Ficciones and The Aleph, as well as the essay collection Other Inquisitions—bearing in mind, as we proceed, the literary themes and social concerns that pervaded the most formative decade...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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U for You: Joyce's Ulysses for New Readers (and Re-Readers)

Irish Arts Center See all classes by this school @ 726 11th Ave, New York, NY

Dive into Joyce's Ulysses with renowned scholar Jonathan Goldman, unraveling its complexities and discovering its humor and humanity. Whether you're a seasoned reader or new to Joyce's work, this immersive experience promises to enhance your understanding and appreciation of this literary masterpiece.

(53) All levels 18 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$456

9 sessions

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Camus and The Stranger

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 417 Lafayette St, New York, NY

Camus and The Stranger: From Existentialism to Post-Colonialism When Albert Camus visited New York seventy years ago, he was greeted as one of Europe’s foremost writers and existentialist philosophers. Widely embraced by the city’s literary and cultural establishment, Camus’s newly-translated book, The Stranger, was read as a vehicle for exploring key existentialist themes. The novel, which tells the story of a Frenchman living in Algeria...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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Playing to Win: an Introduction to Game Theory

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 247 West 37th St, New York, NY

From zero-sum games and the “prisoner’s dilemma” to rational actors and the Nash equilibrium, game theory has grown from a bold conjecture into a deeply influential mode of analysis in political science, economics, psychology, business, mathematics, and even military strategy. Based on a theory of simple card games developed by John Von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern, game theory seeks to use these game situations to model human, computer, and...

(33) Beginner 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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Crisis and Capitalism

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 275 Madison Ave, New York, NY

Do capitalist societies have an inherent tendency toward economic, social, and political crises?  Political economists have, over the course of the past 250 years, offered different frameworks to understand the existence of crises within capitalism: from Adam Smith’s “general glut” (when production exceeds demand) to Marx’s belief that the contradictions inherent in capitalism will lead to its eventual demise and the Keynesian attempt...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$315

4 sessions

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On the Heights of Despair: an Introduction to E.M. Cioran

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 200 East 38th Street, New York, NY

Delve into the mind of philosopher Emil Cioran, as he explores themes of despair, doubt, and skepticism in a world without God. Join this thought-provoking course and discover Cioran's aphoristic style and its connection to his unconventional philosophy. Explore his life, influences, and the meaning of existence in this engaging exploration of a philosopher of unremitting despair.

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$335

4 sessions

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Journals and Diaries: Life, Privacy, and Literature

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY

Delve into the intimate world of writers' diaries, where life and literature intertwine. This course explores how authors from Virginia Woolf to Sheila Heti use diaries to navigate creative processes, confront personal struggles, and resist linear storytelling, offering unique insights into the craft of writing and the anxieties of memory and legacy.

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$335

4 sessions

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Louis Althusser: Ideology and Repression (In-Person)

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 275 Madison Ave, New York, NY

Unpack the power of ideology through the influential lens of Louis Althusser. Examine the interplay between repressive and ideological state apparatuses, and explore how social orders reproduce themselves. Engage with key commentaries to understand Althusser’s enduring impact on radical theory and political struggle.

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$335

4 sessions

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Art: The Legacy of Ancient Myths

Collina Italiana See all classes by this school @ 1556 3rd Ave , New York, NY

This course explores the enduring influence of ancient mythology on art and society, from antiquity to modern times. Through comparing ancient and Renaissance artworks with contemporary media, we'll uncover the timeless relevance of these mythical narratives.

(6) Advanced 18 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$305

6 sessions

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Literature in Irish: Examining “Scothscéalta”

Irish Arts Center See all classes by this school @ 500 W 52nd St, New York, NY

Pádraic Ó Conaire was the first Irish language writer to portray the human condition in a raw and honest manner. The title of this collection, “Scothscéalta,” means “Choice (or Best) Stories.” One short story will be discussed and analyzed each week in terms of themes, style and language. Pre-requisite: This course is aimed at intermediate and advanced level students. The classes will be conducted entirely through the medium...

(53) Intermediate 18 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$170

8 sessions

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The Secret Lives of Coffee and Tea

Caveat See all classes by this school @ 21-A Clinton St, New York, NY

Tea! What is it? What does it mean to be a "milk in first kind of girl"? Why did Americans throw it in to Boston harbor? Why do most Americans drink coffee, but guzzle iced tea in the south? And where did bubble tea and kombucha come from? Sarah will reveal all the answers to your caffeinated queries. Coffee! Is it going to kill you? Make you stronger? Both, simultaneously? Soma will pick apart the science of coffee and tea, weighing the costs...

(25) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!

Fiction and Inner Life: Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY

Can words describe what Virginia Woolf calls “the daily drama of the body”? Can literature verbalize our interiority: physical and spiritual change, the home, the mind, and the relationships between them? In her celebrated novel Mrs. Dalloway, Woolf’s eponymous protagonist is plagued with perpetual anxiety: Clarissa Dalloway is always on the verge of sickness, waking up on a sunny morning with a feeling of “terror,” “overwhelming incapacity,”...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$335

4 sessions

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The Abyss I am Made Of: an Intro to Clarice Lispector

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY

The Abyss I am Made Of: an Introduction to Clarice Lispector Compared over the course of her life to Marlene Dietrich, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Franz Kafka, Rainer Maria Rilke, Arthur Rimbaud, a sphinx, a she-wolf, a “foreigner on earth,” and a hurricane, the Jewish Brazilian Clarice Lispector, born to Ukrainian parents who fled to Brazil from interwar pogroms, made an indelible stamp on the literature of her adopted homeland—and...

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$335

4 sessions

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Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (In-Person)

Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 45 Main St , Brooklyn, NY

Delve into the world of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, a masterpiece exploring love, lust, and the social upheavals of 19th-century Russia. This course examines the novel’s portrayal of family, gender, religion, and modernity, addressing how personal choices intertwine with political and societal shifts during a period of transformation.

(33) All levels 21 and older
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$335

4 sessions

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Reviews for Literature Classes in NYC

Literature Classes in NYC are rated 4.5 stars based on 39 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

Discover the Best Literature Classes in NYC

NYC is a cultural epicenter, known for its vibrant arts scene and literary history. For those eager to dive into the world of literature, whether for personal enrichment or professional aspirations, the wide range of literature classes available provides an ideal starting point. From exploring classic novels to honing creative writing skills, NYC offers diverse courses designed to cater to different interests and learning levels. In this article, we will explore why one should learn literature, what participants can expect to learn, challenges faced when learning this subject, top courses available, reviews from past participants, and frequently asked questions regarding literature classes in NYC.

Why Learn Literature?

Engaging with literature opens up a world of insight and understanding, allowing individuals to explore diverse human experiences and cultures through the written word. The benefits of taking literature classes in NYC include improved critical thinking skills, enhanced creativity, and a broadening of one’s worldview. Enrolling in literature courses can spark a lifelong passion for reading and writing while also providing tools for personal and academic growth.

  • Career Opportunities: Knowledge of literature can lead to careers in education, publishing, writing, and creative industries, showing a command of language and analytical thinking.
  • Enhanced Communication Skills: Reading and discussing literature enhances both written and verbal communication skills, essential in nearly every professional field.
  • Critical Thinking Development: Literature encourages critical analysis and interpretation, allowing learners to think more deeply about texts and context.
  • Personal Growth: Exposure to various perspectives can foster empathy and personal reflection, encouraging students to understand themselves and others more profoundly.
  • The Joy of Creativity: Literature is intertwined with creativity; learning to write or analyze texts nurtures creative skills that can be applied in various endeavors.

What Will Participants Learn?

Participants in literature classes will engage with a variety of texts, genres, and themes, learning how to navigate the complexities of literature. The curriculum typically covers both classic and contemporary works, focusing on interpretation, context, and the artistic elements of writing. Learners can expect to develop their analytical skills, improve their writing abilities, and communicate their interpretations effectively to others.

  • Literary Analysis: Students will learn to dissect texts, recognizing literary devices and styles, and understand authorial intent.
  • Creative Writing Techniques: Classes may explore narrative structure, character development, and thematic storytelling.
  • Understanding Genres: Students will explore different genres, from poetry to fiction, learning about their unique conventions and contributions to literature.
  • Contextualizing Literature: Understanding the historical, cultural, and social contexts of texts provides deeper insights into their meanings.
  • Interpersonal Discussions: Engaging with peers in discussions enhances collaborative learning and exposes students to varied perspectives.
  • Research Skills: Participants will learn to conduct research on literary topics, deepening their understanding of texts and their backgrounds.
  • Genre-Specific Critique: Different genres are critiqued on their unique merits, facilitating a comparative understanding.
  • Writing Feedback: Students often share their writings and receive constructive critiques, enhancing their growth as authors.

Common Challenges in Learning Literature

While studying literature can be highly rewarding, learners may face several challenges that structured classes can help overcome. Instructors can guide students through complexities while providing strategies for effective reading and writing.

  • Diverse Literary Styles: Different authors and genres can be challenging to grasp; classes provide frameworks and guidance on how to approach them.
  • Interpretation Variability: Students may struggle with differing interpretations of texts; classes encourage open discussions to navigate these differences.
  • Writing Anxiety: Many learners feel anxious about their writing; supportive environments in classes foster confidence and skill development.
  • Limited Exploration: Self-directed reading can limit exposure; classes can introduce a broader range of texts and genres to explore.
  • Time Management: Balancing readings and assignments can be difficult; structured classes help students manage their workload efficiently.

Top 6 Literature Courses in NYC

NYC offers a variety of literature courses that cater to diverse interests and skill levels. Here are the top six courses worth considering:

  • Journals and Diaries: Life, Privacy, and Literature
    Offered by the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, this course examines how writers use diaries as a means of creative expression. Participants will explore the interplay between life and literature through the works of authors like Virginia Woolf. The intimate analysis of personal narratives enhances understanding of the creative process.
  • The Pound Era: The Birth of Literary Modernism
    This course, also by the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, delves into the influence of Ezra Pound and the complexities of modernist literature. Students will evaluate the critical legacy and its implications on literary narratives, engaging with themes of race, gender, and history. Through analysis and discussion, participants will develop a nuanced understanding of modernism.
  • Reading Shakespeare
    Conducted by the 92nd Street Y, this course focuses on Shakespeare's significant works, covering his narrative poems and lesser-known pieces. Participants will gain insight into Shakespeare's writing style and historical context, enriching their appreciation for his contributions to literature. The course encourages lively discussions about themes and character portrayals.
  • Creative Writing Workshop
    This course provided by the 92nd Street Y encourages students to explore their writing voice through structured exercises and feedback sessions. Participants will engage in peer reviews, allowing them to refine their writing while learning the fundamentals of storytelling. The environment nurtures creativity and confidence among aspiring writers.
  • Reading the Bible: Literature and Influence
    Also at the 92nd Street Y, this course examines the Bible's narrative influence on literature, focusing on its stories and character development. Students will explore the psychological and literary aspects of Biblical texts, gaining a deeper appreciation of literature's roots. This approach provides a secular perspective on a sacred text, challenging conventional interpretations.
  • Best of World Literature
    This course from the 92nd Street Y allows students to explore critically acclaimed literature from across the globe. The syllabus includes books from diverse authors, promoting discussions around themes, narrative styles, and cultural contexts. Engaging with various texts fosters a comprehensive understanding of world literature.

What Do the Reviews Say?

Literature classes in NYC have received positive reviews, reflecting a strong appreciation from past participants for the quality of education and course content.

  • "The Pound Era course exceeded my expectations in analyzing complex texts. I gained a deeper understanding of modernism and its historical context."—participant of The Pound Era
  • "The discussions in the Reading Shakespeare class were engaging and thought-provoking, making the plays come alive."—participant of Reading Shakespeare
  • "The structure of the Writing Workshop allowed me to explore my creativity in a supportive environment. Feedback from peers was invaluable."—participant of Creative Writing Workshop
  • "I particularly enjoyed how the Journals and Diaries course utilized personal narratives, making it relatable and insightful."—participant of Journals and Diaries

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much do literature classes cost on average in NYC?
    Prices typically range between $150 and $400, depending on the course and institution.
  • Are there any software, tools, or materials required for this type of class?
    Generally, participants need access to required readings, and need pens and notebooks, but specific tools may vary by course.
  • Will prospective participants need any existing skills?
    No prior skills are required; these classes are designed for beginners to advanced students.
  • Can I enroll in online literature classes?
    Yes, many institutions offer virtual classes in addition to in-person options.
  • How long do literature classes usually last?
    Classes may vary from single sessions to multi-session workshops, typically ranging from a few hours to several weeks.

Embark on Your Literary Journey

Literature classes in NYC provide a rich opportunity for exploration and personal growth. Through structured learning, participants will gain valuable skills that enhance their understanding of the literary world, develop their creative potential, and expand their critical thinking abilities. Whether you are a novice reader or an aspiring writer, now is the time to explore the various classes available in your area. Take the leap and immerse yourself in the captivating realm of literature.

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