A Level English Literature

“Show me a family of readers and I will show you people who move the world”
– Napoleon Bonaparte (Military Officer, Statesman, Emperor Of France) 

English Literature at A-Level builds on the mosaic of analytical tools pupils have developed throughout their GCSE studies. 

Students of English Literature at Advanced level will benefit from a historicist-based approach, which encourages pupils to deepen their understanding of the events and experiences that surround the work’s composition, especially the life of the author. The goal is to use this understanding to interpret the work of literature in a deeper and more meaningful way. 

Studying English Literature provides an enriching foundation for a plethora of fields and possible career paths such as, Teaching, Law, Journalism, Publishing, Marketing and Advertising to name but a few.

The course is divided into three parts:

Part 1 – Aspects of Tragedy: Students will study three texts through the lens of tragedy. Some tragic features will be more evident in some texts than in others and students will need to understand how particular aspects of the tragic genre are used. Previous texts taught for this unit include: Othello, Richard II, The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman

Part 2 – Social and Political Protest Writing:
Within this component pupils will be faced some of the most fundamental questions we ask ourselves: Who has the right to power? and What does it mean to have free will? Students will navigate topics such as gender, race, social class and their interaction throughout novels and plays. Previous texts taught for this unit include: The Kite Runner, A Doll’s House, The Handmaid’s Tale and a poetry collection by Blake.

Part 3 – Independent Coursework:
Students are required to independently research and write about two texts of their choice. One prose and one poetry. Students will study an anthology of critical methods and ideas including feminist theory, Marxist theory, post-colonial theory, and literary value. They will then use these critical approaches to analyse and review their chosen texts.  

Beyond A Level study:

English Literature is a highly respected A Level and as such, is suitable for an incredibly broad range of university courses and career choices. Students who become successful in English Literature acquire both powers of analysis and an ability to write effectively; English Literature is therefore considered a ‘facilitating’ subject by Russell Group universities.