Course Overview
This course enables you to study literature through language. You will be introduced to interesting contextual factors that shaped the writing and the different readings of texts.
You will comment on different texts (fiction and non-fiction, spoken and written) using the literary and linguistic terminology you will learn.
You will study the play A Streetcar Named Desire, the autobiography Once in a House on Fire and an anthology of British poetry in year one. In year two you will study The Color Purple and King Lear.
You will complete a coursework project analysing novels and producing creative writing from a particular literary genre.
Updated November 2020
Entry Requirements
You need a minimum of seven GCSE passes at grade C or above. A C grade in English Language and a C grade in English Literature are required.
Course Delivery
You will be taught by two lecturers, for four lessons per week, totalling 4.5 hours for AS and A2 students. Assessment will include timed assignments, presentations and a mock exam at Christmas.
At AS Level:
Unit 1 – Comparative Analysis and Creative Writing – 2 hr exam
Pre-1914 Poetry Anthology
Unit 2 – Drama and Non-Literary Texts
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth
At A Level
Unit 3 – Shakespeare – 2 hr exam
King Lear
Unit 4 – Unseen Texts and Prose Study – 2 hr exam
Analysis of three unseen texts The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Unit 5 – Critical and Creative Genre Study – Non-examination Unit
A 1500 word essay on the novel 1984 by George Orwell and a piece of creative writing.
Progression Opportunities
Either A Level English Literature or A Level English Language and Literature are essential for those who want to read English Literature at a higher level, but are also invaluable for future journalists, teachers and anyone who has an interest in using words with confidence.
The course encourages the development of useful skills that will enhance career or higher education prospects: essay writing techniques will improve as well as your ability to express yourself orally. However, perhaps more importantly, we hope that you will also develop a lifelong fascination with reading and discussing ideas.