English Literature historicist approach to the study of literature rests upon reading texts within a shared context. Working from the belief that no text exists in isolation but is the product of the time in which it was produced, English Literature encourages students to explore the relationships that exist between texts and the contexts within which they are written, received and understood. Studying texts within a shared context enables students to investigate and connect them, drawing out patterns of similarity and difference using a variety of reading strategies and perspectives. English Literature privileges the process of making autonomous meaning, encouraging students to debate and challenge the interpretations of other readers as they develop their own informed personal responses.
All students must achieve 5 or more GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications at Grade 4 or above (including Maths and English). 6+ in English Literature
Component 1: Drama (Othello, A Streetcar named Desire) Externally assessed 30% of total qualification Overview of content Students study: One Shakespeare play and one other drama from either tragedy or comedy – both texts may be selected from one or both of these categories. Critical essays related to their selected Shakespeare play. Students’ preparation is supported by Shakespeare: A Critical Anthology – Tragedy or Shakespeare: A Critical Anthology – Comedy. Overview of assessment Written examination, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes. Open book – clean copies of the drama texts can be taken into the examination. The Critical Anthology must not be taken into the examination. Total of 60 marks available – 35 marks for Section A and 25 marks for Section B. Two sections: students answer one question from a choice of two on their studied text for both Section A and Section B. Section A – Shakespeare: one essay question, incorporating ideas from wider critical reading (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO5 assessed). Section B – Other Drama: one essay question (AO1, AO2, AO3 assessed) Component 2: Texts in shared contexts ('Dracula' - Bram Stoker and 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' - Oscar Wilde) Externally assessed 20% of total qualification Overview of content Students study: Two prose texts from a chosen theme. At least one of the prose texts must be pre-1900 Overview of assessment Written examination, lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. Open book – clean copies of the prose texts can be taken into the examination. Total of 40 marks available. Students answer one comparative essay question from a choice of two on their studied theme (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 assessed). Non-examination assessment Internally assessed, externally moderated 20% of total qualification Overview of content Students have a free choice of two texts to study. Chosen texts: Must be different from those studied in Components 1, 2 and 3 Must be complete texts and may be linked by theme, movement, author or period May be selected from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction. Overview of assessment Students produce one assignment: One extended comparative essay referring to two texts (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4, AO5 assessed) Advisory total word count is 2500–3000 words Total of 60 marks available Component 3: Poetry ('Poems of the Decade' and The Romantics) Externally assessed 30% of total qualification Overview of content Students study: poetic form, meaning and language a selection of post-2000 specified poetry and a specified range of poetry from either; a literary period (either pre- or post-1900) or a named poet from within a literary period. Overview of assessment Written examination, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes. Open book – clean copies of the poetry texts can be taken into the examination. Total of 60 marks available – 30 marks for Section A and 30 marks for Section B. Two sections: students answer one question from a choice of two, comparing an unseen poem with a named poem from their studied contemporary text and one question from a choice of two on their studied movement/poet. Section A – Post-2000 Specified Poetry: one comparative essay question on an unseen modern poem written post-2000 and one named poem from the studied contemporary text (AO1, AO2, AO4 assessed). Section B – Specified Poetry Pre- or Post-1900: one essay question (AO1, AO2, AO3 assessed).
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Gender Type | Mixed |
| Address | Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7DA |
English Literature historicist approach to the study of literature rests upon reading texts within a shared context. Working from the belief that no text exists in isolation but is the product of the time in which it was produced, English Literature encourages students to explore the relationships that exist between texts and the contexts within which they are written, received and understood. Studying texts within a shared context enables students to investigate and connect them, drawing out patterns of similarity and difference using a variety of reading strategies and perspectives. English Literature privileges the process of making autonomous meaning, encouraging students to debate and challenge the interpretations of other readers as they develop their own informed personal responses.
All students must achieve 5 or more GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications at Grade 4 or above (including Maths and English). 6+ in English Literature
Component 1: Drama (Othello, A Streetcar named Desire) Externally assessed 30% of total qualification Overview of content Students study: One Shakespeare play and one other drama from either tragedy or comedy – both texts may be selected from one or both of these categories. Critical essays related to their selected Shakespeare play. Students’ preparation is supported by Shakespeare: A Critical Anthology – Tragedy or Shakespeare: A Critical Anthology – Comedy. Overview of assessment Written examination, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes. Open book – clean copies of the drama texts can be taken into the examination. The Critical Anthology must not be taken into the examination. Total of 60 marks available – 35 marks for Section A and 25 marks for Section B. Two sections: students answer one question from a choice of two on their studied text for both Section A and Section B. Section A – Shakespeare: one essay question, incorporating ideas from wider critical reading (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO5 assessed). Section B – Other Drama: one essay question (AO1, AO2, AO3 assessed) Component 2: Texts in shared contexts ('Dracula' - Bram Stoker and 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' - Oscar Wilde) Externally assessed 20% of total qualification Overview of content Students study: Two prose texts from a chosen theme. At least one of the prose texts must be pre-1900 Overview of assessment Written examination, lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. Open book – clean copies of the prose texts can be taken into the examination. Total of 40 marks available. Students answer one comparative essay question from a choice of two on their studied theme (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 assessed). Non-examination assessment Internally assessed, externally moderated 20% of total qualification Overview of content Students have a free choice of two texts to study. Chosen texts: Must be different from those studied in Components 1, 2 and 3 Must be complete texts and may be linked by theme, movement, author or period May be selected from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction. Overview of assessment Students produce one assignment: One extended comparative essay referring to two texts (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4, AO5 assessed) Advisory total word count is 2500–3000 words Total of 60 marks available Component 3: Poetry ('Poems of the Decade' and The Romantics) Externally assessed 30% of total qualification Overview of content Students study: poetic form, meaning and language a selection of post-2000 specified poetry and a specified range of poetry from either; a literary period (either pre- or post-1900) or a named poet from within a literary period. Overview of assessment Written examination, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes. Open book – clean copies of the poetry texts can be taken into the examination. Total of 60 marks available – 30 marks for Section A and 30 marks for Section B. Two sections: students answer one question from a choice of two, comparing an unseen poem with a named poem from their studied contemporary text and one question from a choice of two on their studied movement/poet. Section A – Post-2000 Specified Poetry: one comparative essay question on an unseen modern poem written post-2000 and one named poem from the studied contemporary text (AO1, AO2, AO4 assessed). Section B – Specified Poetry Pre- or Post-1900: one essay question (AO1, AO2, AO3 assessed).
