English Literature

Course summary

Great literature is about life: love, hate, death, revenge, jealousy, friendship, murder, gossip, flirtation, loyalty, betrayal, politics, crime, fate, science, art, ambition, paranoia, dreams, fear, hopes, fantasy, reality. The list, of course, is endless and encompasses every area of human existence because great literature is really about the human condition – what it is to be a human being on this planet. To adapt a famous quotation: if you’re bored of literature then you’re bored of life. Coursework This component encourages individual study, interest and enjoyment of modern literature. Students study three literary texts, which must include one prose text, one poetry text, and one drama text. All texts must have been first published or performed after 1900, and at least one must have been first published or performed after 2000. There are two tasks: - Close reading or re-creative writing with commentary – both must be based on one literary text - Comparative essay – must be based on two literary texts. Career Opportunities: Career opportunities with English Literature A Level or an English degree are diverse: from publishing to recruitment; from law to journalism. Universities and employers regard this A Level very highly and value the skills that it nurtures: namely analysis, insight, creative and fluent use of the English language.