English Literature A-level’s historicist approach to the study of literature rests upon reading texts within a shared context. Working from the belief that no text exists in isolation, but is the product of the time in which it was produced, the English Literature A-level encourages students to explore the relationships that exist between texts and the contexts within which they are written, received and understood. Across the course, students will study texts both diachronically (produced across a very broad time period) and synchronically (produced within a clearly defined time period). The course consists of two categories of study: ‘Love through the Ages’ and ‘Modern Times: Literature from 1945 to the present day’. In the first category, students will study the following texts: ‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F Scott Fitzgerald AQA Pre-19th century poetry anthology In the second category they will study the following: ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood ‘Feminine Gospels’ poetry collection by Carol Ann Duffy. Students will also study ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare as part of an independent critical study.
6 in English Literature
Paper 1: Love through the Ages Section A: Shakespeare ‘Othello’: One passage-based question with linked essay (25 marks): Section B: Unseen poetry: Compulsory essay question on two unseen poems (25 marks) Section C: Comparing texts: ‘Gatsby’ with pre-1900 poetry anthology. One essay question linking two texts (25 marks) Written exam - 3 hours Open book in Section C only - 75 marks 40% of A-level Paper 2: Option 2B: Modern times: Literature from 1945 to the present day Option 2: Section A answering on Drama core text; Section B comparing prose with poetry Section A: Set texts. One essay question on set text (25 marks): ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams Section B: Contextual linking • One compulsory question on an unseen extract (25 marks) • One essay question linking two texts (25 marks): ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood and ‘Feminine Gospels’ by Carol Ann Duffy Written exam - 2 hours 30 minutes Open book - 75 marks 40% of A-level Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: Texts across time Comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900: 50 marks 20% of A-level One extended essay (2500 words) and a bibliography: Assessed by teachers Moderated by AQA
About Education Provider
| Region | South East |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| Address | Maidstone Road, Rochester, ME1 3BY |
English Literature A-level’s historicist approach to the study of literature rests upon reading texts within a shared context. Working from the belief that no text exists in isolation, but is the product of the time in which it was produced, the English Literature A-level encourages students to explore the relationships that exist between texts and the contexts within which they are written, received and understood. Across the course, students will study texts both diachronically (produced across a very broad time period) and synchronically (produced within a clearly defined time period). The course consists of two categories of study: ‘Love through the Ages’ and ‘Modern Times: Literature from 1945 to the present day’. In the first category, students will study the following texts: ‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F Scott Fitzgerald AQA Pre-19th century poetry anthology In the second category they will study the following: ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood ‘Feminine Gospels’ poetry collection by Carol Ann Duffy. Students will also study ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare as part of an independent critical study.
6 in English Literature
Paper 1: Love through the Ages Section A: Shakespeare ‘Othello’: One passage-based question with linked essay (25 marks): Section B: Unseen poetry: Compulsory essay question on two unseen poems (25 marks) Section C: Comparing texts: ‘Gatsby’ with pre-1900 poetry anthology. One essay question linking two texts (25 marks) Written exam - 3 hours Open book in Section C only - 75 marks 40% of A-level Paper 2: Option 2B: Modern times: Literature from 1945 to the present day Option 2: Section A answering on Drama core text; Section B comparing prose with poetry Section A: Set texts. One essay question on set text (25 marks): ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams Section B: Contextual linking • One compulsory question on an unseen extract (25 marks) • One essay question linking two texts (25 marks): ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood and ‘Feminine Gospels’ by Carol Ann Duffy Written exam - 2 hours 30 minutes Open book - 75 marks 40% of A-level Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: Texts across time Comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900: 50 marks 20% of A-level One extended essay (2500 words) and a bibliography: Assessed by teachers Moderated by AQA