Is this course for me?
English Literature is perfect for those students who love reading and interpreting texts in their own way. The course is centred on the deconstruction, analysis and exploration of a variety of texts from a range of periods including contemporary writers from the last 20 years.
There are opportunities to specialise in areas of interest for the coursework and students will be thoroughly prepared for the academic demands of higher education. Independent study is an essential part of English Literature therefore students are encouraged to read around the subject to achieve the top grades.
What will I learn?
Literary Genres: you will study four texts, all representing different aspects of the comedy genre: The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare; Emma by Jane Austen, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, and an anthology of poetry covering a range of influential poets. (Written exam; 2.5 hours; closed book; 40% of A Level).
Texts and Genres: you will study three texts which represent the genres of crime or social protest writing: one post-2000 prose text; one poetry text and one further text, of which one must be written pre 1900. (Written exam; 3 hours; open book; 40% of A Level).
Theory and Independence: this is a non-exam assessment and is the study of two texts: one poetry and one prose text, informed by study of a Critical Anthology. (20% of A Level).
Anything else?
The course encourages students to read texts independently and to bring their own prepared arguments to discussions. This approach encourages academic exploration, yielding different and
challenging interpretations of texts.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements: Standard A Level entry criteria including grade 6 in English Literature and grade 5 in English Language.
Future careers
This course is particularly suitable for those students who want to study English Literature, Drama or English studies in Higher Education. Many other courses such as Law also value an A Level qualification in English Literature due to the academic nature of the subject and the various skills you will acquire.
