Which Oxford degree subject did C.S. Lewis study before becoming an English scholar?

C.S. Lewis studied English literature at Oxford before becoming an English scholar.

Lewis entered University College, Oxford, in 1917, but his education was interrupted by military service during the First World War. After returning to Oxford, he completed studies in classics, philosophy, and English. His academic training was unusually broad and helped shape both his literary criticism and his Christian writing.

He achieved a first in the Honour School of English in 1923. Lewis later taught English literature at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he became known for lectures and books on medieval and Renaissance literature.

His route into English followed earlier success in other subjects, so accounts of his education can seem confusing. He did not begin at Oxford as a straightforward English specialist. His work on older literature, especially medieval texts, remained central to his scholarly identity throughout his career.