The English Department was delighted to welcome Professor Claire Harman, a distinguished scholar of 19th-century literature, for an inspiring day of workshops with Fifth Form students. The sessions focused on key texts for their GCSE studies, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Professor Harman, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, is widely respected for her contributions to the study of 19th-century literature. Her impressive academic career includes teaching roles at the University of Manchester, the University of Oxford, Durham University, and Columbia University in New York. In addition to her teaching, she is an acclaimed author, having won prestigious accolades such as the 2015 Forward Prize for Poetry and the 2016 Tom-Gallon Award. Her celebrated biographies of Brontë and Stevenson are invaluable resources for students studying these literary greats.
The day’s programme was structured into two engaging parts. In the morning, Professor Harman delivered a stimulating lecture, exploring the characters, narrative structures and themes of the two novels. Students gained fresh insights into how Brontë and Stevenson crafted their works and explored their broader significance within the context of Victorian society.
The afternoon session had a practical focus, as students worked through three carefully selected extracts from each novel. This exercise mirrored the format of their upcoming GCSE examinations, helping students refine their analytical skills and deepen their textual understanding.
The workshops provided a unique opportunity for students to develop a richer appreciation of their set texts. The English Department expressed its gratitude to Professor Harman for her expertise, which left students feeling inspired and well-prepared for the challenges ahead.