The aims of this specification are to encourage learners to develop their interest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies. Students will: • Read widely and independently both set texts and others that they have selected for themselves • Engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them • Develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation in writing • Explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations. Learners are required to study one play by Shakespeare which will be assessed in Section 1 of this component. In addition, learners are required to study one pre-1900 drama text and one pre-1900 poetry text which will both be assessed in Section 2.