English Literature

Course summary

For over 2,000 years, poetry, drama and prose have helped make sense of and indeed shape the world around us. This rich heritage of literary texts and the lessons they have to teach us about our own experiences is what forms the basis of study in English literature. The course is designed to help you think critically about the texts you read and to develop your responses to a range of plays, poems, novels and short stories. There will be opportunities to share your ideas with your teachers and fellow students through lively classroom debates. You will also work on developing your written style so that you can express yourself clearly and concisely. A range of theatre and other extracurricular trip opportunities will also complement your studies. You will study texts from the tragic and crime genres including: Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Death of a Salesman, Othello and Brighton Rock.