Free Online Courses
Paid certificateBeginnerWriting & Humanities

Masterpieces of World Literature

Harvard survey of world literature from Gilgamesh and Homer to Borges and Lahiri.

Taught byHarvard Online
Start free on Harvard Online

About this course

David Damrosch and Martin Puchner trace how literature travels across cultures, reading works from the ancient world to the present and examining how writing technologies shaped them.

Best for: Readers who want a guided tour of the world's great books.

What you will be able to do

  • Trace the history of world literature
  • Analyse literary works critically
  • Explain how texts change as they cross cultures
  • Discuss the impact of writing technologies

Syllabus and your progress

Tick modules off as you finish them on Harvard Online.

0 of 6 modules done

Plan your pace

At 4 hours a week you would finish in about 18 weeks, using the course time estimate above.

Progress is saved in this browser only. No account needed.

Cost and certificate

Paid certificate

Free to audit on edX; the verified certificate costs $299.

Harvard Online sets the terms and can change them. Check the course page before you commit serious time, and tell us if something changed.

Quick answers

Is Masterpieces of World Literature really free?
Yes, the course material is free on Harvard Online. Free to audit on edX; the verified certificate costs $299.
How long does Masterpieces of World Literature take?
Plan for about 72 hrs in total (Provider estimate: 12 weeks at 5-7 hrs/week.). It is self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.
Do I need experience before Masterpieces of World Literature?
No. It is a beginner course with no prerequisites listed.

Featured in

Topics

About Harvard Online

Harvard's open catalogue, including CS50.

All free Harvard Online courses

Keep going on AltFTool

Masterpieces of World Literature

Paid certificate

Start on Harvard Online