Literature
Literature provides the gateway to human experience transfigured by the imagination. The imagination is a source not only of inspiration but also meaning. It offers both practical and moral insights. It deals with the immediate sphere of human experience as well as the ultimate reality of human destiny. It gives entry to the human mind and heart in which the perennial engagement of truth and falsehood, of good and evil, is laid bare.
The Campion curriculum in literature has a twofold purpose. It aims to nurture in students an understanding of verbal and literary forms together with an advanced ability to express themselves, clearly and cogently, in both written and spoken language. It will also provide a systematic introduction to the vast and varied tradition of mainly Western literature, covering major periods, authors and genres.
When studied in sequence, literature units at Campion proceed chronologically. After a grounding in the fundamentals of composition, students read the seminal epics of the ancient world by Homer and Virgil and consider examples of classical drama and literary criticism. Students then progress through the literature of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modernity, as we study works by Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Austen and Eliot, among many others. Elective units in literature are devoted to the study of Catholic, modern, and Australian literature, as well as the plays of Shakespeare.
Studying Literature at Campion
All students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (3-years) complete Level 100 and Level 200 units as part of the core curriculum. Students who wish to graduate with a major in literature should choose Level 300 units, consulting with the Dean of Studies to satisfy the requirement for a major.
Individuals who do not wish to enrol in a full course may enrol in single units as a non-award (for academic credit) or auditing student.
Literature units on offer