English Literature (A Level)

Course summary

Students are introduced to a range of Literature including poetry, prose and drama. Students read eight texts from different periods, three of which must be pre-1900. They develop skills of analysis and comparison while also studying the social and historical factors affecting the production and reception of texts. The course requires students to analyse whole texts to understand the construction and impact of texts on a variety of levels. The internal assessment gives a greater degree of freedom to do independent reading and explore individual ideas. There will also be a theoretical focus and students will begin to tackle some basic elements of literary theory, particularly in the study of a Shakespeare play.