English Literature

Assessment

Component 1: Drama Pupils study Shakespeare’s tragedies Alongside A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Shakespeare’s play is considered in the light of the stimulating selection of critical essays. • Formal Assessment – a written examination lasting 2 hours 15 minutes (30% of the overall qualification): Section A: Pupils answer one essay question, from a choice of two, on Shakespeare, incorporating ideas from their wider, critical reading. Section B: Pupils answer one essay question, from a choice of two, on A Streetcar Named Desire Component 3: Poetry This component allows pupils to make an in-depth study of poetic form, meaning and language. They read a selection of post-2000 poetry, including work by Seamus Heaney, Simon Armitage and AndrewMotion, and a selection of poems by John Donne. • Formal Assessment – a written examination lasting 2 hours 15 minutes (30% of the overall qualification): Section A: Pupils answer one comparative essay question, from a choice of two, comparing an unseen poem with a work that has already been studied as part of the course. Section B: Pupils answer one essay question, from a choice of two, on John Donne’s poetry. Component 4: Non-examination Assessment Pupils make an intensive study of two texts, which may be linked by theme, movement, author or period. These may be selected from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction. This component is worth 20% of the overall qualification and consists of a single comparative essay of approximately 3000 words.