“My favourite subject is English Literature, as my teacher thoroughly analyses the books and poems with us to help us gain a deeper understanding of the texts. Since studying at Xaverian, I feel more confident in my writing and analytical ability, and I hope to use my skills in English Literature to publish my own books in the future. We normally read a text to prepare for a lesson that will engender a debate on themes or the writer’s craft. This week, we are looking at Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ and we will explore the text further by exploring didactic themes and critical evaluation.

We regularly attend events and insight days at The University of Manchester such as ‘A Decolonial Attitude to Shakespeare’, which included a talk from Professor Farah Karim-Cooper from the Globe Theatre. There is a residential trip planned to London next month to watch the National Theatre’s ‘Othello’ and this will really bring to life the text we are studying at the moment. Guest speakers come into College to talk about Irish literature, and lecturers from the University of Salford give us talks on Gothic and Dracula. We will also be entering writing competitions this year, including Portico Library and Christopher Tower from the University of Oxford.”