English Literature

Course summary

We follow the OCR syllabus, taught over two years. The A Level consists of coursework followed by examination at the end of the two years. This study is exciting and includes Renaissance, Restoration and Gothic literature. A student who embarks on this course will learn to read and discuss texts in much depth, considering the philosophical and political impact of the writing. They will also be able to read critically, formulate logical arguments and communicate clearly. For those who love the subject but also lean towards science, it is possible to study English Literature at A Level in combination with science subjects. Girls who fall into this category have gone on to medicine and veterinary medicine. Our small class sizes mean that girls become very confident and eloquent. English at St Augustine's Priory • Small class sizes and more individual attention in a less intimidating environment • Wide-ranging digital resources for research • Attending external and internally arranged lectures, including online • Trips to theatres/museums • Book/film clubs for genre, characterisation and context comparative discussions • Specialist Oxbridge enrichment sessions Component 1: Shakespeare, Drama and Poetry pre-1900 Texts: Hamlet by William Shakespeare The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster OR A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Poetry: Samuel Taylor Coleridge OR Christina Rossetti OR John Milton OR Geoffrey Chaucer Component 2: Comparative and Contextual Study - Dystopia Texts: The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Component 3: NEA/Coursework Texts: Students' own choice: Three texts, 1 each from prose, poetry and drama (all written post-1900 with one of these post-2000) Recent examples: Howl by Allen Ginsberg Beloved by Toni Morrison The Dubliners by James Joyce Where Angels Fear to Tread by EM Forster A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delany Ariel by Sylvia Plath 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane