English Literature

Course summary

Externally Examined Content - Drama and Poetry Pre-1900 Hamlet by William Shakespeare Selected poems of Christina Rossetti compared with Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. - Comparative and Contextual Study – Dystopian Fiction The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood compared with Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. A synoptic study of a range of extracts from the period will be assessed by the close analysis of an unseen extract, with references to the student’s knowledge of the social, historical, and literary context. Internally Assessed Content (Coursework) Students will write about three texts in total: a play, a novel, and a selection of poems. 1. Close analysis of a short extract from a text, currently Far Away by Caryl Churchill. 2. An in-depth comparison and analysis of two post-1900 texts. The current pairing is Passing by Nella Larsen and Selected Poems by Langston Hughes. A variety of teaching methods will be employed to develop your thinking, writing, and analytical skills as well as your confidence in presenting your opinions. You will be encouraged to lead as well as participate in seminar-style lessons, undertake individual projects, and work in small groups. Under staff guidance, you will be encouraged to develop your own independent learning and research skills.