English Literature

Course summary

WHY STUDY THIS COURSE? Studying English allows you to articulate your thoughts, argue your opinions in an organised and convincing way, critically examine the world around you, be endlessly creative, and explore the deepest recesses of your imagination! COURSE DESCRIPTION The course aims to expose students to a wide range of challenging texts. It is of course important that students read broadsheet newspapers and quality fiction at home as well—reading lists will be supplied. Whole texts studied on the course include; The Great Gatsby, The Handmaid’s Tale, Atonement, Othello, The Feminine Gospels, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Bloody Chamber. You will also analyse a variety of shorter extracts from writers such as Zadie Smith and James Baldwin, and critical pieces by intellectuals such as Germaine Greer and Chinua Achebe and study an anthology of poetry looking at the development of verse throughout history, from the fifteenth century to the modern day. Assessment takes place in class throughout the year and given regular feedback to ensure good progress. The final assessment consists of a mix of coursework (25% of the final mark) and regular examinations in which essays are written in response to texts both studied and unseen.