English Literature

Course summary

English Literature allows students to access a wide range of literature from various points in history. Students will learn how language has changed and debate how key issues and themes are presented through novels, plays and poetry, whilst developing critical analysis. The engaging texts allow students to debate and analyse the key themes and ideas within them, considering a range of perspectives from feminism to Marxism. The coursework element allows students to select their own text to study and offers the option to recreate a piece of literature in the style of the author. Study around the theme of tragedy in historical literature. • Texts including Othello by William Shakespeare, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and A Collection of Poems by John Keats. • Study of political and social protest in historical and contemporary literature. • Texts including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the poetry of William Blake and A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. • Learning about a range of critical approaches, including feminist, Marxist, eco-critical and the literary canon.