English Literature

Course summary

The study of English Literature at A level is, in broad terms, an introduction to one of the major Arts and an opportunity to read constructively from a wide range of important writing between the fourteenth century and the present time. It is a discipline which fosters the development of perceptive analytical skills and independent thought. A minimum of four texts will be studied and the specification will cover the three literary genres: drama, poetry and prose. This course combines well at A level with any other subject, offering close contextual and conceptual links with Humanities and the Arts, a concern with the development of the human mind and spirit parallel to those which Medicine and Psychology pursue, and a close study of definitive text from at least seven centuries which can underpin studies preparatory for the legal profession. It may also offer a balancing discipline for study with pure sciences and Mathematics. All universities perceive English Literature at A level to be a rigorous academic subject, and students who wish to continue their studies in English Literature at university will and entry very competitive for this subject. They will, however, also find a broad range of courses in which they may be studied in combination with other subjects.