English Literature A-Level
Subject: English Literature
Qualification Level: A Level
Qualification Duration: 2 years
Exam Board: AQA (7712B)
Overview:
Our department is led by experienced English literature teachers, with steady results over the last six years. Most students who have applied to read English at Oxbridge have gone on to study there, with other students also successfully integrating to Russell Group universities. We aim to engage the students with the subject beyond the classroom, running trips to the theatre as well as inviting university scholars to come and talk to us.
Year 1 content:
In year one, students will be focusing on the theme of love, and all the ways it can be understood. They will consolidate their analysis skills, learning how to develop their thesis statements to write carefully crafted essays. They will do this through the comparison of a poetry anthology with a novel (The Great Gatsby), the forensic analysis of a play (Othello) and by learning how to approach and compare unseen poetry.
Year 2 content:
In year two, we investigate contemporary texts through the lens of modernity, exploring dystopia with The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood), conflict in A Streetcar Named Desire (Tennessee Williams) and the multi-faceted poetry of Owen Sheers (Skirrid Hill). Students also carry out their coursework, investigating two texts of their choices and the links made.
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Year 1 Content Paper 1: Love through the ages |
Year 2 Content Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts |
Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: texts across time. |
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What’s assessed: A. Shakespeare play Othello B. Comparison of two unseen Poems C. Comparison between:
Assessment Written exam: 3 hours
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What’s assessed: Option 2B: Modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day: A. Question focusing on one of the following texts: Prose: Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale Play: Tennesee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire Poetry: Owen Sheers, Skirrid Hill B. Unseen Prose C. Comparison between the other two studied texts. Assessment Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
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What’s assessed: Comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900. One extended essay (2,500 words and a bibliography) Assessment
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Trips and other costs:
Students will need to purchase their own copies of the texts studied.
We also organise trips to the theatre to see relevant productions, and signpost any lectures and extra-curricular that may be taking place online or in the vicinity.
Career and further study:
The analytical, discursive and creative skills which are developed are useful in many careers such as: journalism, law, social services, teaching, government, film directing, marketing, broadcasting, advertising and software developing.