English Literature A Level

Course summary

Study of an English A-Level is very different from GCSE, and is good for any job that involves communication, writing and / or literary knowledge. These include: advertising and marketing, writing and journalism, law, consultancy, business, teaching, performing arts, academia, government, linguistics, foreign languages, media and design and freelance writer. Students with an A level in English Literature have a wide range of career and higher education opportunities. English Literature can be studied as a single subject at university or combined with a wide variety of other subjects. It forms an excellent basis for studying any arts-based subjects in combination with, for example, History, Philosophy, Law, Politics, Languages or Media Studies. Component 1: Shakespeare, Drama and Poetry pre-1900 Texts: Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Selected Poetry by S T Coleridge and An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde Component 2: Comparative and Contextual Study American Literature 1880-1940Texts: American Literature – a comparison of The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Component 3: Close Reading OR re-creative writing piece with commentary AND Comparative EssayTexts: Literature post-1900 (student choice) Read three texts (poetry, prose and play) and compare whatever themes, ideas and methods you wish to pursue