English Literature is a course that will open your hearts and minds to new horizons, new worlds and new experiences. It will help to develop your interest and enjoyment in literature, to make informed judgements about texts and gain an understanding of the cultural and historical factors that influence great writers. During the course you will study a variety of set texts that span the ages ranging from Shakespeare to Thomas Hardy to Ian McEwan. We will look at sweeping themes such as Tragedy and Love and analyse how the great writers have tackled these throughout the ages. Beyond that you will be encouraged to read independently and explore your own responses which you will be able to develop in your coursework.
English Literature
A-Level
Entry requirements
A grade C or above in GCSE English Language and English Literature is required along with an enjoyment of reading.
What will I study
If you have enjoyed exploring plays, poems and novels at school you will be well suited to English Literature at A Level. To be successful in this course you will need good evaluative skills and good close reading and writing skills. You will study twelve set texts four of which comprise the coursework.
You will study:
- Drama
- Novels
- Poetry
- Shakespeare
The texts have been carefully chosen to give you insight into how writers craft their work, but also to inspire as well as entertain you. We will be looking at a wide range of texts from across the centuries including very modern ones. Texts are often twinned for study eg ‘Othello’ is studied alongside ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ to show how writers use a universal theme of Tragedy. The poetry texts concentrate on the art of narrative, or storytelling, and you will learn how this technique created some of our greatest poetry. Your own independent reading will be crucial throughout the course but particularly in Year 2 when you will have the opportunity to analyse and formulate your own opinions about the books you have read as part of the coursework. As such, you need to be self-motivated, conscientious but, above all, an avid reader plus someone who holds strong opinions and is keen to express them in discusion and debate.
Which subjects complement this
- Drama and Theatre Studies
- History
- Law
- Media Studies
- Modern Languages
- Sciences
Assessment
- 60% written examination
- 40% coursework
Progression
English Literature opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities, including publishing, journalism, media, law and teaching for which it is a core subject of the National Curriculum. The great variety of skills acquired are both highly regarded by employers and universities and also valuable in their own right. You will develop the ability to express informed and independent opinions in a wide range of formats from essay writing to your own narrative tales. As well as supporting other subject areas, English Literature offers an ideal preparation for a university degree in English or a related subject.