• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Literature

    Literature Courses Online

    Study literature to understand significant works and authors. Learn about literary analysis, genres, and the history of literature.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Literature Course Catalog

    • N

      National Taiwan University

      中國園林文學 (一) (Chinese Garden Literature (1))

      Skills you'll gain: Art History, Aesthetics, Liberal Arts, Creativity, Ancient History, Design Elements And Principles, Writing

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • O

      O.P. Jindal Global University

      Introduction to Academic Writing

      Skills you'll gain: Writing, Writing and Editing, Research, Journals, Policy Analysis, Research Design, Content Creation

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      126 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • I

      IIMA - IIM Ahmedabad

      Leadership Skills

      Skills you'll gain: Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Team Leadership, Change Management, Leadership and Management, Business Leadership, Business Ethics, Self-Awareness, Culture Transformation, Personal Development, Decision Making, Emotional Intelligence, Influencing, Empowerment, Communication, Relationship Building

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.8K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Textual Elements of Design: Fonts, Typography, and Spacing

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Graphic and Visual Design, Design, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design Software, Design Elements And Principles

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      274 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      Universidad de Palermo

      Arte Medieval

      Skills you'll gain: Art History, Ancient History, Aesthetics, European History, World History

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      17 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      W

      Wesleyan University

      Memoir and Personal Essay: Managing Your Relationship with the Reader

      Skills you'll gain: Storytelling, Journals, Writing

      4.3
      Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
      ·
      253 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California, Irvine

      Introduction to Research for Essay Writing

      Skills you'll gain: Research, Writing, Writing and Editing, Proofreading, Vocabulary, Style Guides

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.1K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      T

      Tsinghua University

      Just Reading and Writing English 2

      Skills you'll gain: Cultural Diversity, Culture, English Language, Literacy, Writing, Interpersonal Communications, Grammar, Vocabulary

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      54 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      D

      Deep Teaching Solutions

      Uncommon Sense Teaching

      Skills you'll gain: Instructional Strategies, Teaching, Learning Strategies, Learning Theory, Differentiated Instruction, Student Engagement, Human Learning, Time Management, Mental Concentration, Student-Centred Learning, Neurology, Adaptability

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      616 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      W

      Wesleyan University

      Writing Stories About Ourselves

      Skills you'll gain: Storytelling, Content Creation, Writing, Editing

      4.3
      Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
      ·
      97 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Cape Town

      Understanding Clinical Research: Behind the Statistics

      Skills you'll gain: Biostatistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics, Clinical Research, Statistical Analysis, Quantitative Research, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Inference, Data Collection, Probability

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.6K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • H

      Hebrew University of Jerusalem

      Modern Hebrew Poetry שירה עברית מודרנית

      Skills you'll gain: Language Competency, World History, European History, Language Interpretation, Translation, and Studies, Liberal Arts, Literacy, Writing and Editing

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      134 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    Literature learners also search

    World Literature
    Creative Writing
    Writing
    Creative
    Beginner Creative Writing
    Business Writing
    Beginner Writing
    Writing Projects
    1…567…17

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular literature courses

    • 中國園林文學 (一) (Chinese Garden Literature (1)): National Taiwan University
    • Introduction to Academic Writing: O.P. Jindal Global University
    • Leadership Skills: IIMA - IIM Ahmedabad
    • Textual Elements of Design: Fonts, Typography, and Spacing: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Arte Medieval: Universidad de Palermo
    • Memoir and Personal Essay: Managing Your Relationship with the Reader: Wesleyan University
    • Introduction to Research for Essay Writing: University of California, Irvine
    • Just Reading and Writing English 2: Tsinghua University
    • Uncommon Sense Teaching: Deep Teaching Solutions
    • Writing Stories About Ourselves: Wesleyan University

    Frequently Asked Questions about Literature

    Literature is a word-based art form, usually a work of fiction. Works of literature include poems, plays, short stories, novels, and stories that are written down. Some are transcribed from oral tradition while many are original works of writing. Scholars and historians often categorize these works by language, genre, historical period, theme, and region.‎

    There are several advantages to studying literature, notably the way it builds critical thinking skills and increases cultural awareness. Literature is a window into the human experience, allowing readers to visit places and understand events that may be inaccessible through other means. Reading stories and poems also is entertaining and provides a stress-reducing escape from the world around you.‎

    Studying literature changes the way you view the world and yourself. When you read a novel set in another country or depicting customs from other cultures, you may discover similarities between these faraway places and your own neighborhood that help you make sense of cultural differences. A story may spark an interest in a specific topic that can lead to a new hobby or career. Analyzing the way writer’s use words builds your vocabulary and boosts your ability to look for patterns and trends—even outside the context of a story.‎

    The communication and critical thinking skills you develop from studying literature can lead to a variety of career opportunities like a promotion or a job in a different field. Connecting with characters in a story develops empathy, an important skill for anyone who works in a management or supervisory role. Analyzing the use of language in a story can improve your own language and communication skills, which make you a better team member.‎

    Online courses create an opportunity for you to study literature more deeply than you would by reading on your own. Knowing you have deadlines to meet motivates you to make reading a priority and increases the chance that you'll finish the story. You can choose a specific genre or theme to explore in-depth. The coursework of an online class may guide you to see different perspectives and ask questions that you may not otherwise consider.‎

    Online Literature courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Literature skills. Choose from a wide range of Literature courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Literature, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

    Other topics to explore

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Technical Skills

    • ChatGPT
    • Coding
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • DevOps
    • Ethical Hacking
    • Generative AI
    • Java Programming
    • Python
    • Web Development

    Analytical Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Big Data
    • Business Analysis
    • Data Analytics
    • Data Science
    • Financial Modeling
    • Machine Learning
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • SQL

    Business Skills

    • Accounting
    • Digital Marketing
    • E-commerce
    • Finance
    • Google
    • Graphic Design
    • IBM
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Social Media Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Essential IT Certifications
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How to Get a PMP Certification
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
    • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
    • Career Development Resources
    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Share your Coursera Learning Story

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok