From classic literary works like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to ‘The Great Gatsby,’ and ‘Rebecca’ to ‘Jane Eyre,’ the songs crafted by singer-songwriter Taylor Swift resonate with both overt and subtle literary references.

In a groundbreaking initiative, a literature professor in Belgium has harnessed the intrinsic literary qualities of Swift’s lyrics to curate a course that utilizes the chart-topping artist’s songs to delve into the world of iconic English literature and the underlying themes within these timeless works.

Elly McCausland, an esteemed assistant professor at Ghent University, recognized that Swift’s songs provide a unique avenue to explore multifaceted concepts. For instance, the course will delve into feminism, exemplified by Swift’s powerful track ‘The Man,’ and delve into the anti-hero trope through the aptly titled song ‘Anti-Hero’ from her 2022 album ‘Midnights.’

Inspiration for the course, dubbed ‘Literature (Taylor’s Version),’ struck McCausland earlier this year as she listened to ‘The Great War,’ another song from ‘Midnights.’

“The way she uses the war, like a metaphor for a relationship, made me a bit uncomfortable and it got me thinking about Sylvia Plath’s poem ‘Daddy,’ which does a similar thing and also it’s very uncomfortable reading,” shared McCausland.

Being an ardent admirer of Swift’s music herself, McCausland emphasizes that the course intends to make literature more accessible and is not an endeavor to establish a Swift fan club. “The whole point is to get people to think that English literature is not a load of old books from a long time ago festering in a library. But it’s a living, breathing thing and it’s continually evolving and changing,” she elucidated.

McCausland’s ingenious course leverages Swift’s lyrics as a gateway into the exploration of classic literary luminaries such as William Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William Thackeray. Notably, Swift references the works of several other writers, including Charles Dickens and Emily Dickinson, and McCausland has recognized resonances with the style of British Romantic poets of the early 19th century.

Incorporating phrases like ‘Wonderland’ and ‘long story short,’ Swift’s songs even reference Lewis Carroll’s iconic 1865 novel ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’

Despite online skepticism and critique, akin to the doubts that swirled around Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize in literature, McCausland’s course has gained tremendous popularity, with inquiries pouring in from beyond the university, even through private messages on Instagram.

As Taylor Swift continues her meteoric rise, McCausland’s innovative course contributes to the convergence of music, literature, and culture in a fresh and dynamic way. While the course marks a unique initiative in Europe, institutions like New York University’s Clive Davis Institute and Queen Mary University in London have also recognized the intrinsic value of exploring Swift’s work through a literary lens, further bridging the gap between artistic disciplines.