English Literature A Level

A minimum of 4 subjects at grade 5 or above at GCSE plus English Language at grade 6 or above and Maths at grade 4 or above.

Year One 

• Comedy - based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest
• One supernatural novel and one element of poetry
• Shakespeare Critical Anthology 
   

Year Two

• One supernatural novel
• Second element of poetry
• Shakespeare Critical Anthology
• Coursework

Non-examined assessment (Coursework)
Extended comparative essay between two novels of your choice. These texts are linked by a theme of your choice and can be selected from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction.

Items you will need 
Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Poems of the Decade by various ISBN 978-0571325405
Christina Rossetti selected poetry ISBN 978-0140424690
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Beloved by Toni Morrison
 

We read our literature together in class and respond with discussion and workshops. Lessons will include activities such as taking notes, class and group discussion, reading and research, essay practice and a chance to improve your own personal writing style.

At the end of Year Two there are two examinations (each worth 40% of the final grade). The coursework assessment is worth 20% of the final grade.

This course combines well with most A Levels, particularly essay writing subjects such as Modern Languages, History, Psychology, Sociology, Drama & Theatre Studies and Film Studies.

Degree level study in areas such as English, journalism, creative and media industries, public relations, museum work, civil service, law etc. Past students have gone on to study English at Oxford, Cambridge, Newcastle, Birmingham, UEA, Manchester and other top universities.