English Literature

Course summary

This course involves reading a wide variety of texts from a range of genres. Texts will be united by a common theme but will have been produced during different historical eras. Throughout the course, critical debate will be encouraged and you will be required to develop your own interpretations of texts informed by literary criticism from a range of perspectives. This will enhance your ability both to read critically and to express your ideas effectively, using literary terminology and a coherent structure. Year 12 : In Year 12 you will follow the unit Love through the Ages, which includes a Shakespearean play, a range of poetry, and a modern novel. You will be introduced to all 5 of the assessment objectives and will practice analyzing language at the required depth and with reference to social context and critical debate. Year 13: In Year 13 you will follow the unit World War One and its Aftermath. The texts studied are the Blackadder Goes Forth scripts, an anthology of war poetry, and the modern novel A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry. In this year you will consolidate the skills introduced in Year 12 and focus on constructing an argument in relation to an essay question.