English Literature

If you enjoy really getting your teeth into whole texts, arguing over the issues and themes, debating the characters, admiring the writers' use of language and developing your own personal interpretations, then A Level English Literature should be just what you're looking for. Obviously, it involves a lot of reading, but there's much more scope to develop your own tastes and talents at A Level than at GCSE. It combines logical analysis with plenty of emotional involvement and can be a valuable asset for many kinds of degree course or career.

Literary Genres: Drama: Aspects of Tragedy This unit involves studying a Shakespeare play and one further drama text. You will learn about the tragedy genre and get to know the plays in depth, as well as practising some modern ways of interpreting literary texts. This unit is assessed by a closed book examination, in which you will answer one question on each of the texts. Literary Genres: Poetry and Prose In this unit, you will study one prose text and a selection of poetry; either several poems by one poet, or an anthology containing poems by a selection of writers. You will explore aspects of language, style and writers' techniques, as well as considering the contexts which affect the writing of texts and the ways in which readers respond to them. Assessment is by open book examination. Texts and Genres: Elements of Crime Writing For this unit, you will study three texts, one of which will be poetry. You will learn about aspects of crime writing and explore the genre in depth. Assessment is an open book examination; you will answer a question about each text and explore an unseen passage. Theory and Independence This unit offers you the opportunity to study literary texts covering a wide range of times, types and topics. You will broaden your knowledge, deepen your skills of analysis and develop your personal interests and responses. You will study two texts of your own choice for the unit, and produce a piece of coursework in response to each. In each essay, you will establish a link to a different aspect of the Critical Anthology.

80% examination: two papers (40% each) and a coursework folder (20%).

Every year, several of our English Literature students go on to study English at degree level at a range of universities. Others follow Literaturerelated courses such as American Studies, Cultural Studies or Communication Studies. The subject is useful for those wanting to go into many professions, including law, teaching and journalism.