English
The study of English is fundamental to a liberal arts education. Students in English classes at Holy Cross focus not only on literary works of the imagination – poems, plays, novels, short stories, non-fiction – but also on the use of language as a means of communication.
Understanding a literary work requires close reading through the vigorous analysis of a text's words, phrases, and images. Student come to understand that literature also requires a consideration of intertextual questions that invite cultural, historical, and philosophical analysis.
The English department at Holy Cross offers students the opportunity to develop an appreciation of literature, sensitivity to literary techniques and language, and increased mastery of written expression. Students become acquainted with English-language literature that spans historical periods from the Middle Ages to the present and that represents the artistic achievements of men and women of different nations and peoples.