The primary aims of the course will be to expose pupils to a diverse range of literary works, including those from other cultures and languages, and to use the study of such works to foster both their personal appreciation of literature and the skilful use of oral and written expression to convey understanding of its methods and concerns. The techniques involved in literary criticism will be honed, focusing on both the ability to examine written text precisely and in depth, and to analyse relationships between different works. The development of these skills should nurture a lifelong love and knowledge of literature. Such aims match the ranging demands of the syllabus components: close reading skills are essential for the literary analysis required for Paper 1 and the individual oral commentary; comparisons between texts will need to be elucidated for Paper 2. The study of Prescribed Literature in Translation will also require pupils to appreciate different perspectives of people from other cultures, and the impact of the time and place in which a work is written. Of course, the assessment criteria for all examinations prize clear knowledge and understanding, and the use of coherent language to express this, both orally and on paper.