A Level English Literature
Overview:
Enter the symposium: enjoy high-level debate and discussion with intelligent, engaged fellow students supported by experienced staff. English Literature is a highly academic and challenging A Level that constantly encourages us to reflect on what it is to be human. Students read widely and independently, engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts, undertaking independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of English literature.
There is also scope here for highly engaged and self motivated students to incorporate texts of their own choice. Students study Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, “An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde, poetry by Christina Rossettie, Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-four” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. For coursework, we cover Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”, Walker’s “The Colour Purple” and Duffy’s “Feminine Gospels” with you.
The course aims to hone critical reading and writing skills, engage with big ideas and develop a life-long appreciation of literature in all its forms.
“You truly care about us AND the grades. There is always support given and the lessons are always useful and enjoyable. It was awesome”
Course Structure and Content:
A Level English Literature introduces some of the finest literature of all time. Students will hone their critical reading and writing skills, engage with different ideas and perspectives on humanity, and develop their own ability to debate, evaluate and present a case. Students study ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare and Victorian drama and poetry and explore the dystopian genre. Further texts (poetry, prose and drama) are studied for coursework.
- Theme 1 - Students study ‘Hamlet’ and debate different perspectives on the play over time. Oscar Wilde’s comedy ‘An Ideal Husband’ and Christina Rossetti’s poetry are explored.
- Theme 2 - Students read widely in the dystopian genre and study Orwell’s 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ in depth.
- Theme 3 - Students compare Tennessee Williams' ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and Alice Walker's ‘The Color Purple’, selecting a theme of their own choice. They also closely analyse Duffy’s ‘Feminine Gospels’.
Click here to download a course flyer
Assessment:
At the end of the Lower 6th, students sit an exam on all of the Lower 6th content. This does not count towards the final grade, but assesses the content at this half-way point before progression to the Upper 6th. The final assessments at the end of the Upper 6th are as below:
- Assessment 1 - 40% 2 hours 30 minutes written paper based on Theme 1 (60 marks).
- Assessment 2 - 40% 2 hours 30 minutes written paper based on Theme 2 (60 marks).
- Assessment 3 - 20% One close analysis and one comparative essay based on Theme 3 (40 marks)
Examination Board:
The course followed is the OCR English Literature H472
OCR English Literature (external link)
Future Career Opportunities:
It is widely recognised by universities that the skills developed through the study of English Literature are among the most transferable, with English graduates going on to develop the widest range of careers.