English Literature A Level

Course summary

Genre and themes are at the heart of this new specification with the focus being on three elements of English Literature studies: poetry, prose and drama. The texts offered – ‘Othello’, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, ‘Tess of the d’Ubervilles’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns', to name a few – are rich in language fields, narrative and offer a multitude of opportunities to engage critically with the ideas of the authors. Students of English Literature will have ample opportunities to engage creatively with this substantive body of texts across time and develop their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation. In short, they will be offered an exciting course where their opinions are not only encouraged, but matter. There will also be a sharp focus on the contexts of production of these texts, along with reception across time, allowing students to undertake independent and sustained study to deepen their appreciation and understanding of English Literature, including its changing traditions.​