English Literature

Course summary

Year 12 will deepen and broaden prior knowledge that will enable them to progress throughout the year. The Year 12 curriculum will allow students to explore different genres from different periods in history such as: Shakespearean tragedy (Hamlet) in the Elizabethan/Jacobean period; modern tragedy such as A Streetcar Named Desire in the post-Second World War period; and novels and poetry from the modern period such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Color Purple, Poems of the Decade and Unseen poetry. Students will learn to be independent and critical thinkers and will be able to respond to texts in an accurate and informed fashion, both in speech and writing. They will be able to write in a formal academic register, plan, write and check over all extended writing, as well as being able to re-draft work where necessary i.e. the NEA. Students will develop their love of literature through reading a range of challenging texts.