English Literature

Course summary

Students in year 12 study a range of texts connected by the same genre: tragedy. They begin term 1 by exploring the conventions of the genre, which they then apply to the study of the following texts over the course of the academic year: • Othello by William Shakespeare • Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller • A collection of poetry by John Keats. Students are taught to respond critically to texts, developing their own interpretations, underpinned by an understanding of the genre and informed by those of other literary critics. They also explore how writers shape meaning, considering the impact of a range of authorial methods on the reader. Year 13 In year 13, students study texts connected by aspects of social and political protest, including: • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood • The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini • Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake