A Level English Literature

Course summary

Studying English Literature means studying literature in many forms. This demands great commitment and a variety of skills, not least of which is a genuine desire to read books of all genres and periods, from Chaucer onwards. English Literature includes studying novels, plays, poetry, non-fiction and short stories. Students will be able to make some choices about their areas of study, especially in their non-exam assessment, but they should also expect to study texts outside of their current experience. Students will learn to use critical concepts and terminology with understanding and discrimination. They will be encouraged to reflect on their own responses to texts, considering other readers’ interpretations, with awareness of the contexts in which texts were written. To do well at A level students will need to be a self-motivated and independent reader with a love of literature. They will be expected to write weekly essays so good organisational skills are essential as is the ability to write fluent, well-structured arguments.