English Literature in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Opportunities, and Transformations

Abstract

The intersection of English literature and artificial intelligence (AI) marks a transformative phase in literary creation, interpretation, pedagogy, and scholarship. As AI-driven tools proliferate, they challenge traditional concepts of authorship, creativity, and textual analysis, while offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation, accessibility, and interdisciplinary research. This paper examines the impact of AI on English literature from historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives. It explores the challenges posed by generative AI to literary authenticity and pedagogy, the opportunities AI affords for new forms of expression and analysis, and the transformations reshaping literary practices and institutions. Through critical evaluation and case studies, the paper emphasizes the need for ethical frameworks, digital literacy, and collaborative human-AI engagement to harness technology while preserving the human essence of literary art.