Western Department of English/American Language and Literature

We offer, with the help of various parttime instructors, lectures and seminars on a broad range of subjects in the fields of English literature and linguistics. While we take care to teach the historical and cultural background so that students can fully appreciate literary works written in English, it has been the tradition of our department to lay stress on careful reading of the text itself. We, therefore, expect students to use dictionaries constantly.

Students are to write their graduation theses in English. They are encouraged to choose their own area of pursuit for themselves and may write their theses on any subject, from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes in the field of literature, and from Old English to Present-day English (including World Englishes) in linguistics. This department and that of American Literature are closely connected, most of the courses being common to both departments which merge into one at the graduate school level.


Our department offers a variety of courses on American literature—American fiction, drama and poetry, especially of the nineteenth century onward—with the help of part-time instructors from the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies and from other universities. Lectures and seminars are basically conducted in Japanese (except those by American and other English native instructors), and although their subjects, focuses and approaches may differ, most of them put special emphasis on careful and analytic reading of texts themselves, which should be the basis for any critical treatment of literary works. Students, therefore, are expected to make extensive use of dictionaries, pay close attention to textual details, and think out each interpretive difficulty they encounter, while developing, through lectures and seminar discussions, their interest in and understanding of broader issues concerning American literature and culture. They are also encouraged to cultivate their knowledge of English and other European literature, since the main body of classic American literature derives from Western literary tradition. Finally, students are to write their graduation theses in English, on subjects of their own choice; for which they should prepare themselves by acquiring sufficient English-writing skills—Academic Writing course is provided for this purpose—as well as by reading a wide range of literary and critical works to enrich their individual studies.

This department and that of English Language and Literature are closely connected, most of the courses being common to both departments which merge into one at the graduate school level.