Students who choose English Literature are not only looking to study a subject that is recognized and sought after by institutions of higher education, they are fascinated by the truth of the written word. Literature is the creation of another world, a world that we can only see through reading and discussion. Literature offers students the opportunity to learn about history, politics, linguistics, art and culture. Students who study A level Literature will study not only works established as part of the canon of English Literature but also exciting, innovative texts from other cultures as well. Genre study is at the heart of English Literature and students will study a range of prose, drama and poetry texts through the lens of either tragedy or political and social protest writing. Students will also study a range of critical theory, including Feminism and Marxism and apply these to poetry and prose texts of their own choosing as part of their coursework. why study this subject? A Level of English Literature offers students the opportunity to develop inference and deduction skills which are particularly useful to careers and courses that require you to break down rhetoric and formulate an informed argument. The content of the course enables students to explore the study of literature through the lens of genre and theory, which in turn encourages the independent study of a range of texts within a shared context. This unifying approach facilitates the inclusion of a range of wider reading, thus extending students’ experience and appreciation of literature beyond core set texts. This course allows students the autonomy to explore, debate and tackle challenging literary concepts and shape their understanding of the world around them. Areas of Study: Tragedy Othello - William Shakespeare. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald. Richard II - William Shakespeare. Social and Political Protest The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini. Songs of Innocence and Experience - William Blake.