Course content

There are 4 units. You can choose to study English Literature for 1 year only and obtain an AS level by completing the first 2 units.

Alternatively, you can opt to continue your studies for a further year, studying the final 2 units and obtaining the full A level.

Unit 1: Aspects of Narrative

• You will study 2 prose texts and the work of 2 poets.
• You will be assessed in a 2 hour written examination

Unit 2: Dramatic Genres

• You will study two dramatic tragedies including one play by Shakespeare.
• You will be assessed through 2 pieces of written coursework.

Unit 3: Texts and Genres

• You will study three texts and compare aspects of a given topic.
• You will be assessed through a 2 hour written paper.

Unit 4: Further and Independent Reading

• You will study 3 texts, one of which will be a pre-released anthology of critical writing applied to a piece of literature
• You will be assessed through 2 pieces of written coursework.

In the first year of study you will study two plays within the dramatic genre of tragedy including one by Shakespeare for coursework. For the written examination, you will study two novels and the work of two poets by examining the key aspects of narrative. This will involve many different ideas about literary representation as well as a focus on how narratives are constructed by authors and the different ways in which they can be responded to by readers.

In the second year of study you will write a comparative response to two novels for coursework as well as an analytical response to critical material which will introduce you to some theory about the different ways in which the study of literature can be approached. For the written examination, you will study both pre and post 1800 poetry as well as a novel. You will explore and evaluate these texts against some of the commonly accepted principles of the Pastoral genre.