What are lessons like in this subject?
You always know when English Literature lessons are happening because our classrooms are filled with enthusiasm and passion for the written word. Students who choose this subject can expect to be encouraged to share their love for literature by exploring a wide range of texts, including prose, poetry and drama.
You will engage in spirited discussions, reflecting on a wide range of different perspectives and write thoughtful essays about the writer’s craft, commenting on how ideas can be shaped by the contexts in which they are written.
What will I study?
You will engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them, including:
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
• An anthology of modern poetry to compare with unseen poetry.
• A collection of poems.
The course is assessed through the combination of three exam papers and coursework.
The coursework requires you to write an extended essay of around 2500 words comparing two literary texts of your own choosing. Coursework is worth 20% of the qualification.
What our
students
English Literature has helped me to find unique ways to look at thoughts and concepts. It’s helped me to grow an insight of a range of different emotions and perspectives of the studied characters, and to look at the world through their eyes.
Trust English Literature Student
