English Literature

Course summary

At English Literature A-level, the texts studied are clustered around two different foci – ‘Tragedy’ and ‘Social and Political Protest Writing’, exploring how poems, plays and novels both fit within, as well as challenge, these specific genres of writing. Texts cover different cultures and time periods, ranging from William Shakespeare’s Othello to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Students also have the opportunity to explore their own literary interests in their coursework or NEA (Non-Examined Assessment), where students write essays on both a prose and poetry text of their choice. Students’ appreciation of live theatre is also cultivated through regular theatre trips to performances both locally and nationally, including visits to the RSC and Shakespeare’s Globe.