English Literature

Course summary

English Literature is an opportunity to read widely and participate in class discussions and debates as well as writing essays. In Year 12 we will study ‘Love through the Ages’ where the set texts are Shakespeare’s Othello, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and a collection of Love Poetry that allows you to consider a range of approaches and poetic forms taken towards the topic of love. In Year 13 we shall focus on Literature post 1945 and consider the social, political and stylistic influences on Literature in recent years. The set texts will be Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Williams’ A Streetcar named Desire and Carol Ann Duffy’s The Feminine Gospels. In addition, there will be coursework where you will have a free choice of topic that involves analysing 2 texts by 2 different authors – at least 1 of the texts must be written before 1900. The essay should be 2500 words and you should also consider other writers’ ideas on your chosen topic.