English Literature

Course summary

Over the course of the two years, students study a variety of different texts (poetry, prose and drama), connected through either their theme (love through the ages) or the time in which they were written (either WW1 and its aftermath, or modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day). As part of the course, students must study a Shakespeare play, a core literary heritage novel, as well as a pre-1900 text and a contemporary (post 2000) text. The majority of assessment is through examination at the end of the A-Level course; however, in the second year, students also have the opportunity to complete an independent critical study into texts across time. These texts are chosen by the students and are driven by individual students’ interests. At least one, however, must have been written pre-1900. Firstly, you will study three texts around the genre of tragedy. This will include one Shakespeare play, a second drama text, a novel and a collection of poetry. Secondly, you will study three texts within the genre of crime writing: one post-2000 prose text, one pre-1900 poetry text and one further text. This will include texts which focus on transgressions against established order and the breaking of either national, social, religious or moral laws. Lastly, you will complete a unit based around ‘Theory and Independence’. This component will require you to read widely,choose your own texts, and require you to understand that contemporary study of literature needs to be informed by different theoretical and critical methods.