Abstract: “Community” has been both a key object of literary imagination for English writers in different historical periods and one of the most enduring and most commonly written subjects throughout the history of English literature. In recent years, along with the rapid progress of globalization, the representation of “community” has become a heated topic for literary critics both at home and abroad. Although the interdisciplinary study of this subject has not yet caught enough attention from critics, now it is undoubtedly a research path worth exploring. Using “community” as a breakthrough point, this essay aims to offer a comprehensive illustration about the literary representation of the subject in English literature and viable options for an interdisciplinary study on it as well. While examining the relevant theories and studies of the subject both at home and abroad, the essay not only traces the origin, development, and criticism of “community” in English literature, but also demonstrates the significance and theoretical value of its interdisciplinary study. In addition, the essay illustrates some typical examples of “community” representation, along with rich resources for interdisciplinary studies, and explores some deep-rooted issues that may occur in the course of the aesthetic analysis within the text and the cross-boundary research beyond.

Key words: community, English literature, representation, interdisciplinary study