English Literature

The GCSE English Literature course is designed to challenge your ability to read and consider a wide-range of English Literature texts, ranging from Shakespeare to the modern play. You will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of poetry, drama and prose texts as well as responding to unseen poetry to test your critical analysis skills.

Literature Paper 1: Shakespeare & the 19th century (40%)

Section A Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.

Section B The 19th-century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.

Literature Paper 2: Modern Texts & Poetry (60%)

Section A Modern texts: students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.

Section B Poetry: students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.

Section C Unseen poetry: Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

You will encounter all styles of learning in English.  Sometimes you will be asked to get out of your chair and do, other times you will have to listen quietly, other times you have to debate and share your views. You will always be challenged to think!

English and the skills you develop in writing, reading, reasoning and speaking and listening are the cornerstone of nearly every profession you might choose to pursue. A command of the English Language and your ability to understand and control it is vital as you move into the world outside of school, whatever the choices you make.