English Language and Literature

Course summary

This course combines the most enjoyable parts of literature and language study. You will develop your skills as a reader, writer and communicator, learning how language works in different situations by exploring a range of interesting and stimulating texts. You’ll learn how to adapt your writing style for different audiences and purposes and consider how language can be best used to communicate your ideas effectively in a range of contexts with clarity and precision. You will compare Dracula by Bram Stoker and Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, exploring how each author uses language to present key characters and themes, considering aspects such as context and genre. You will also study an anthology of non-fiction texts and analyse how writers develop a particular style, voice and persona in their work. You will read the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and learn about how historical, social and cultural context are important. You will enhance your ability to identify how language is used for specific audiences and purposes and learn how to critically respond to a range of texts, alongside writing your own fiction and non-fiction pieces for coursework.