English Literature

Course summary

The study of English Literature is the study of the human psyche, human experience, and the thoughts of some of the most brilliant minds in human history. Any text is the product of its time; a study of it will teach a student to read in context and to understand the influences of the author. The skills developed in the study of Literature include critical thinking, analysis and creative expertise. In short, the study of English Literature helps students explore some of life's greatest questions and develop the skills of analysis and argument required for entry to the most prestigious universities and careers. Component One: Drama and Poetry Pre-1900 Hamlet by William Shakespeare Students will explore and respond to one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, developing a detailed, critical understanding of the play by closely analysing its language and dramatic effects and exploring its performance over the centuries. Selected Poems by Christina Rossetti and A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen Comparing Rossetti’s compelling poetry with this play by the ‘Father of Modern Drama’, students draw fascinating links and explore themes such as gender roles, deception, class divisions, greed and relationships. Component Two: Comparative and Contextual Study American Literature, 1880 – 1940 The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Students become experts in American literature of this period, analysing the development of the US society through the fiction that it produced. NEA (Coursework) Students write a short close analysis of one text and a longer comparative essay that explores a theme or topic of their choice. This is an opportunity for students to study the 21st Century texts and to make their own choices guided by their teachers.