English Literature Course Information

At AS and A level, English Literature studies involve discussion of many areas of students’ experience; bravery, loneliness, love, jealousy and sexuality to name but a few. Students must therefore approach the course with an open mind and be willing to hear and discuss the opinions of their peers. The course covers poetry, prose and drama from Marlowe and Shakespeare through to W H Auden and Andrea Levy. It is challenging but rewarding and we hope that Literature studies will not only provide you with a very well-respected A level but will also enrich your mind.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Who does it suit? Students who enjoy reading, writing and sharing ideas. You will learn how to analyse texts so that you understand more about literary contexts and authorial intent. Literature discussions often have no clear conclusion so you must approach the subject with an inquiring mind.

EXAMINATION BOARD

AQA

ASSESSMENT

AS Level

The specification we follow is the AQA syllabus B.

Unit 1 What is narrative?: Poetry and prose are studied including Christina Rossetti’s Selected Poems and the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Unit 2 Tragedy: this is a coursework option and our students write 2 essays, one on a Shakespeare play and one on a 20th Century play, this year All My Sons by Arthur Miller.

A2 Level

Unit 4 Texts in Time: This unit also contains the study of poetry and drama; Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Taylor Coleridge and Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II. Texts are not allowed in the exam.

Unit 5 Literary Connections: this is a coursework option and involves a 2500 word essay which compares texts with literary links. Our A2 students are comparing Victorian novels this year.

Unit 6 Reading for Meaning: a synoptic paper which asks students to draw from all of their AS and A2 studies. Literature of the First World War is the theme and students discuss poetry, prose and drama written in or about this period.

Results

We have been very pleased with our results over the last few years. Many students have gone on to study English at universities such as Nottingham, York and Kings College in London. In 2005 80% of our students gained A or B grades.