English Literature

Course summary

Why Study English Literature? Welcome to A Level English Literature. Studying English Literature at A Level is an exciting, challenging and world changing experience. GCSE English was just the start of what promises to be a journey of discovery through poetry, drama and novels. Through the study of literature spanning several centuries, you will apply post-colonial criticism to Shakespeare’s ‘Tempest’; delve deep in to the twisted, demented worlds of the gothic or dystopian; explore literature as activism and reimagine stories from our past through the eyes of brave and game changing writers. You will expand your horizons from feminist movements of recent history to political representations through time. By combining a flourishing knowledge of the world around you with sharp analytical skills and technical knowledge of language, you will learn to write adeptly and succinctly – developing skills for the rest of your life that can be used across all spheres of study or work. This course will challenge, inspire and motivate the critically and creatively minded, and ignite your passion for the world of words. At RR6 we aim to develop students’ critical thinking skills which will help them to interpret the world around them and become learners for life. Critical theory is a key component of our course, encouraging students to apply their communication skills to all theoretical and practical settings. We study a range of texts from the post-modern era and different cultures, without losing touch with classical literature. We encourage students to think about how English literature has developed over time and challenge them to form their own ideas on issues such as identity, politics and culture. We take a holistic approach to the study of English literature to help students prepare for the wider world and the next steps in life and education. This means encouraging students to also engage with wider reading to help them achieve REAL success: respect, equality ambition and learning. An Example/Illustration of the Type of Work Involved: Both exams will require students to respond to an extract related to the texts they have studied. For Shakespeare, this will be an extract from The Tempest that students would need to analyze critically for the use of language, structure and form. For the comparative and contextual study this will be an extract from either The Gothic or Dystopian genre (depending on which genre has been studied). The other exam questions will be essays based on the bigger concepts that texts deal with such as: hope, power, control or oppression. The coursework is a unique opportunity for students to develop their own essay questions, independently research and build creative exciting academic arguments. What Careers or Higher Education Follow from this Subject? A Level English Literature is the perfect stepping stone towards any communication-based careers: journalism, law, performing arts, education etc. Every year we see students continue their study of English Literature at prestigious universities including Oxford and Cambridge. However, English Literature A Level opens doors to study a wide variety of subjects such as History, Psychology, Sociology and much more.