English Literature

Who are we? Why are we here?

Through characters from Hamlet to Harry Potter, writers have been asking these questions for centuries. Since first learning to communicate, we have used narrative to make sense of the world and understand our place in it. If you are interested in these questions, our journey through poetry, prose and drama will explore all of human desire, disappointment and triumph, holding the mirror up to the self to demand “Who am I?”

Structure of the course

AS Unit 1: Prose and Drama - Written exam worth 20%

AS Unit 2: Poetry Post - 1900 - Written exam worth 20%

A2 Unit 3: Poetry Pre-1900 and Unseen Poetry - Written exam worth 20%

A2 Unit 4: Shakespeare - Written exam worth 20%

A2 Unit 5: Prose Study - Non-examination Assessment worth 20%

Career paths and next steps

Studying English Literature will develop a range of skills including written and oral communication, analysis, independence and critical thinking. A range of Higher Education and career opportunities are available following your studies. English Literature students may go on to work in areas as diverse as education, government, journalism, publishing, law, marketing, media and social services.

FAQ about the subject

How does the A Level differ from GCSE?

Obviously, the level of challenge is greater at Advanced Level as there is a great deal more reading and essay writing involved. The texts are demanding, as you’d expect, and you have longer to spend in exploring them, their background and context. Smaller classes enable in depth discussion, but there are also opportunities for more independent work.

Can I choose which texts I read?

The A2 coursework allows students to choose two novels for comparison. Teachers provide guidance and support, but this unit provides a good opportunity to follow your own interests. Otherwise, the class will follow the same texts together, drawn from the WJEC specification.

What kinds of text are they?

In the AS year, we study one nineteenth century novel, a modern play and the work of two twentieth century poets. In previous years, students have read Jane Eyre, A Streetcar Named Desire and the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy and Philip Larkin.

What are the lessons like?

Pupils are often expected to have read texts in preparation for lessons and be ready to discuss what they have read. Informal group discussion is balanced with presentations delivered by members of the group, and we will offer guidance and modelling to demonstrate how essays should be planned and written. The majority of this work is submitted using Google Classroom, which also allows teachers to share digital resources and useful research links with students to enrich their learning.

Teacher Profiles

The sixth form have a wide range of English Literature teachers who all have relevant degrees to provide you with insight and help you achieve the very best grades.