9 Best + Free Literature Courses with Certificates

Literature usually refers to talking about the written works of imaginative and artistic individuals or those who have intellectual value. This is typically characterized by the use of language for not only conveying ideas but emotions and experiences. Literature encompasses different forms of written expression. This includes novels, poems, plays, essays, short stories, and other literary works. Below you can find the list of Best + Free Literature Courses with Certificates for further learning.

# Course Name University/Organization Ratings Duration
1. Masterpieces of World Literature Harvard University ★★★★★ 4.7 84 Hours
2. The Modern and the Postmodern Wesleyan University ★★★★★ 4.8 11 Hours
3. Walter Scott: The Man Behind the Monument University of Aberdeen, The Abbotsford Trust ★★★★★ 4.8 08 Hours
4. World Literature: Your Guide to Becoming Very Well Read SkillShare 20 Hours
5. The American Renaissance: Classic Literature of the 19th Century Dartmouth College 04 Weeks
6. Writing Character-Driven Short Stories SkillShare 01 Hour
7. Literature in the Digital Age: from Close Reading to Distant Reading University of Basel ★★★★★ 4.7 24 Hours
8. Modern Masterpieces of World Literature Harvard University ★★★★★ 4.9 48 Hours
9. Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals The University of Newcastle Australia ★★★★★ 4.6 09 Hours
In order to help our readers in taking a knowledgeable learning decision, TakeThisCourse.net has introduced a metric to measure the effectiveness of an online course. Learn more about how we measure an online course effectiveness.

Best + Free Literature Courses with Certificates….

Masterpieces of World Literature

      • Harvard University via edX
      • 148,318+ already enrolled!
      • ★★★★★ (21 Ratings)

In this engaging class, you will explore and understand how great writers refract their world. You will understand how all of their works are transformed when they intervene in our global cultural landscape.

  • The reason why we chose this class is its focus on explaining how literary works and books are transformed by cultural transmission. You will be taught how to critically analyze literary works.
  • This class is for those who wish to understand the history of World Literature and understand the importance of major technological advances in writing.

The Modern and the Postmodern

      • Wesleyan University via Coursera
      • 126,455+ already enrolled!
      • ★★★★★ (965 Ratings)

Online Course Effectiveness Score
Content Engagement Practice Career Benefit
Excellent
★★★★★
Excellent
★★★★★
Good
★★★★☆
Good
★★★★☆

In this course, you will examine how the idea of “the modern” developed at the end of the 18th century in European philosophy and literature. You will understand how being modern became one of the crucial criteria for understanding and evaluating cultural change.

  • The best thing about this course is its focus on examining whether we are still modernity or we have moved beyond the modern to the postmodern. Here you will also study how the pursuit of knowledge is relevant to the politics of inequality.
  • This course is for those who wish to study how the pursuit of knowledge is relevant to the politics of inequality.
Taking this course has been a fabulous journey for me and it brought me so much nearer to the great minds of the 18th century. The instructor also shed light on the 19th century and it was wonderful reading original texts and listening to Professor Roth’s wonderful interpretations. (Jan R)

Walter Scott: The Man Behind the Monument

  • University of Aberdeen, The Abbotsford Trust via FutureLearn
  • 7,034+ already enrolled!
  • ★★★★★ (218 Ratings)

Online Course Effectiveness Score
Content Engagement Practice Career Benefit
Excellent
★★★★★
Excellent
★★★★★
Good
★★★★☆
Good
★★★★☆

Do you want to discover the writer, collector, and cultural icon who remained one of Scotland’s most enduring literary legends? If yes then this course is for you. Here you will engage with a selection of texts by Walter Scott.

  • The best thing about this course is its focus on investigating the relationships between literature and national identities. You will also reflect on the cultural impact and the legacy of Walter Scott.
  • This course is for those who wish to explore how Scott uses his collection at Abbotsford as a springboard for a story.
With the help of this course I was able to learn more about Sir Walter Scott which was quite fascinating. The instructors were so interesting and even had great rapport with one another. The course allowed us to look at the overall life of Sir Walter Scott. Now because of this course, I am ready to take deeper dives and Sir Walter Scott has always been my favorite and he was so much more than a writer. (Kate S)

World Literature: Your Guide to Becoming Very Well Read

      • Eve Williams via SkillShare
      • 1,041+ already enrolled!
      • 20 Hours of effort Required!

Online Course Effectiveness Score
Content Engagement Practice Career Benefit
Good
★★★★☆
Good
★★★★☆
Fair
★★★☆☆
Fair
★★★☆☆

Do you love to read and become able to widely read and understand key texts, literary movements and historical contexts in the World Literature? If yes then this class is for you.

  • The reason why we chose this class is its focus on explaining texts from across the world and from ancient times to the present day. The instructor also talks about the historical, political, and philosophical contexts.
  • This class is for those who wish to gain a thorough knowledge of World Literature and be able to discuss the literature with literati.
This class exceeded my expectations and allowed me to learn a lot about the historical contexts in world literature. (Marie F)

The American Renaissance: Classic Literature of the 19th Century

  • Dartmouth College via edX
  • 4 Weeks of effort Required!
  • Course Type (Instructor-led)

In this class, you will explore the writings of famous American authors from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Harriet Beecher Stowe to Mark Twain. Here you will examine the historic role that was played by Dartmouth College in their formation.

  • The best thing about this class is its focus on talking about the connections between the disparate locations, myths, and traditions found in the nineteenth-century American literature. You will understand the historical turning points that were involved in the production of an American literary tradition.
  • This class is for those who wish to understand the ways in which Dartmouth College participated in the creation of American Literature.

Continue with more Free Literature Courses with Certificates…

Writing Character-Driven Short Stories

      • Yiyun Li, Writer via SkillShare
      • 22,930+ already enrolled!
      • 01 Hour of effort Required!

Online Course Effectiveness Score
Content Engagement Practice Career Benefit
Excellent
★★★★★
Good
★★★★☆
Fair
★★★☆☆
Fair
★★★☆☆

In this class, the instructor walks learners through prompts, strategies, and advice for writing compelling characters. You will understand how to turn situations into stories.

  • The best thing about this class is its focus on explaining how to revise work into a polished piece.
  • This class is for all the beginner writers who are just getting started in writing fiction. With that, experienced writers can also take this class and understand and try out new writing styles and get feedback on their work.
This class has without any doubt exceeded my expectations. Every section included great information. I can say if anyone is looking for a resource to understand why character development is important to any story then this class is one of the best to consider. Now I am more anxious to read some of the instructor’s books. (Zoe N)

Literature in the Digital Age: from Close Reading to Distant Reading

  • University of Basel via FutureLearn
  • 12,479+ already enrolled!
  • ★★★★★ (47 Ratings)

Online Course Effectiveness Score
Content Engagement Practice Career Benefit
Excellent
★★★★★
Excellent
★★★★★
Good
★★★★☆
Fair
★★★☆☆

This course will help you learn new ways to interpreting literary texts. Here you will understand the time-tested methods along with computer-assisted practices such as distant reading.

  • The reason why we chose this course is its focus on explaining the various media in which we read literature in the digital age.
  • This course is for those who wish to investigate the different strategies that can be used on a daily basis while reading online texts.
Yes this course was truly amazing and it took me through familiar yet novel territory as an avid reader and lover. I have quite an interest in literature and this course turned out to be the best learning experience for me. This course can be recommended to all whether you are interested in reading or not. As it can help you understand what techniques and tools could be missing from your textbox. (Jo T)

Modern Masterpieces of World Literature

      • Harvard University via edX
      • 82,161+ already enrolled!
      • ★★★★★ (13 Ratings)

This course examines how great modern writers can capture the intricacies of our globalized world. You will understand how modern people’s works circulate within that world to find their own audiences.

  • The best thing about this course is its focus on explaining the historical and political context in China, Argentina, Turkey, and other countries.
  • This course is for those who wish to understand the history of World Literature.

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

      • The University of Newcastle Australia via FutureLearn
      • 21,817+ already enrolled!
      • ★★★★★ (572 Ratings)

Online Course Effectiveness Score
Content Engagement Practice Career Benefit
Excellent
★★★★★
Excellent
★★★★★
Good
★★★★☆
Fair
★★★☆☆

In this course, you will build your skills in literary analysis and creative writing by exploring the meaning of fairy tales.

  • The reason why we chose this course is its focus on explaining the importance of cultural contexts in shaping fairy tales.
  • This course is for all those interested in fairy tales and literary analysis.
I really loved this course and found it to be extremely engaging. The topics included were well-planned and interspersed with enjoyable writing activities. This course had only one problem and that is it ended very soon. I would have loved it if it was of longer duration. (Cristina C)
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