English Literature

Assessment

The course comprises three exam papers and one non-exam assessment (coursework). Paper 1: Drama (30% of qualification – 2 hour 15 mins exam, open book) - This exam addresses a variety of critical responses to a Shakespeare play and also studies the principles of comedy or tragedy as presented in another dramatic text. Section A - Shakespeare Study of a Shakespeare play (we will be studying Hamlet) and a collection of related critical essays (provided by the exam board). Section B - Other drama We will be studying The Importance of Being Earnest. Paper 2: Prose (20% of qualification – 1 hour 15 mins exam, open book) - For this exam students will be asked to compare two prose texts according to a particular theme; one of the novels must have been written before 1900. There is a wide choice of novels and themes to choose from, for example under the theme of Science and Society, our students will study Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein alongside Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go. Paper 3: Poetry (30% of qualification – 2 hour 15 mins exam, one question unseen, second question open book) - For this unit students will prepare for responding to an unseen modern poem, through the study of form, meaning and style; they will also be required to study a range of poetry from either a particular literary period or by a single named poet from within a literary period (we will be studying the poems of John Keats). Section A - Unseen Poetry One essay question on an unseen modern poem written after 2000. Section B - Prescribed Poetry One essay question relating to works studied in class. Coursework (20% of qualification) - For their coursework submission, students will study two texts, one of which will be The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, and are required to produce one assignment which will be an extended comparative essay. The advisory total word count is 2500 to 3000 words.