English Literature

Course summary

The English Literature course at Godolphin and Latymer primarily aims to nourish a love of literature through wide reading and academically engaged textual discussions. Across the course of your studies with us, we will aim to expose you to a wide variety of some of the greatest literature ever written, from across the scope of the literary landscape. You will study several core texts in depth; exactly which texts vary from class to class and from teacher to teacher, but you will have the opportunity to grapple with poetry, prose and drama. Alongside close reading of your texts themselves, you will also be exposed to the contexts that impacted them, and to the critical discussions that have developed around them. As well as discussing texts in class, you will also spend time developing the articulacy and strength of your written expression - the study of English Literature is an excellent preparation for any university course with a written component, and an excellent complementary A Level for any other humanities subject. This course will suit you if you love reading and talking about books. Our co-curricular activities in English are run mainly by our team of excellent Laureates, alongside enthusiastic students from across the school. We are always eager to develop activities around the interests of our Sixth Form cohorts, and our English Literature students often meet outside of the course to discuss wider reading and attend performances socially. Lit Soc meets weekly for talks and discussions led by girls and teachers. The Debating Club is one of the most popular activities in the school.