English Literature

Course summary

The first reason would be for the enjoyment of the texts; this is a subject based on the study of texts (poetry, prose, and drama) and your understanding of them. You will learn to express your thoughts coherently and logically, as well as to develop analytical skills that will be useful in any future study or career path. The literature will also enhance your success in many other subjects and can act as a complementary subject to courses such as Mathematics and Science. Many students go on to study Literature or related subjects at university. The course you will follow covers a wide range of interesting texts drawn from all three genres: prose, poetry and drama. Some texts will be challenging because the language and ideas may be unfamiliar to you; others may have just been published and could give you a fresh insight into the world you know. You will explore the theme of ‘Love through the Ages’ by analysing thematically linked texts, which include a Shakespeare play, as well as prose, poetry and drama from a range of authors. You will also study contextually linked texts and complete an independent comparison of texts for the Non-Examined Assessment.