Literature

For more information contact: Jane Hando

Introduction

VCE Literature focuses on the meanings derived from texts, the relationships between texts, the contexts in which texts are produced, and how readers’ experiences shape their responses to texts.

In VCE Literature students develop and refine four key abilities through their engagement with texts. These are:

  • an ability to offer an interpretation of a whole text (or a collection of texts)

  • an ability to demonstrate a close analysis of passages or extracts from a text, in consideration of the whole text

  • an ability to understand and explore multiple interpretations of a text

  • an ability to respond creatively to a text.

Students are provided with opportunities to read deeply, widely and critically; to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of texts; and to write creatively and analytically.

VCE Literature enables students to examine the historical, social and cultural contexts within which both readers and texts are situated. Accordingly, the texts selected for study should be drawn from a wide range of eras, a variety of forms and diverse social and cultural contexts.



Rationale

The study of VCE Literature fosters students’ enjoyment and appreciation of the artistic and aesthetic merits of stories and storytelling, and enables students to participate more fully in the cultural conversations that take place around them. By reading and exploring a diverse range of established and emerging literary works, students become increasingly empowered to discuss texts. As both readers and writers, students extend their creativity and high-order thinking to express and develop their critical and creative voices.

Throughout this study, students deepen their awareness of the historical, social and cultural influences that shape texts and their understanding of themselves as readers. Students expand their frameworks for exploring literature by considering literary forms and features, engaging with language, and refining their insight into authorial choices. Students immerse themselves in challenging fiction and non-fiction texts, discovering and experimenting with a variety of interpretations in order to develop their own responses.


Structure

The study is made up of four units. Each unit deals with specific content contained in areas of study and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes for that unit. Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge and key skills.

Entry

There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. Students must undertake Unit 3 prior to undertaking Unit 4. Units 1 to 4 are designed to a standard equivalent to the final two years of secondary education. All VCE studies are benchmarked against comparable national and international curriculum.

Units 1 & 2

Unit 1

Reading practices

In this area of study students consider how language, structure and stylistic choices are used in different literary forms and types of text. They consider both print and non-print texts, reflecting on the contribution of form and style to meaning. Students reflect on the degree to which points of view, experiences and contexts shape their own and others’ interpretations of text.

Exploration of literary movements and genres

In this area of study students explore the concerns, ideas, style and conventions common to a distinctive type of literature seen in literary movements or genres. Examples of these groupings include literary movements and/or genres such as modernism, epic, tragedy and magic realism, as well as more popular, or mainstream, genres and subgenres such as crime, romance and science fiction. Students explore texts from the selected movement or genre, identifying and examining attributes, patterns and similarities that locate each text within that grouping. Students engage with the ideas and concerns shared by the texts through language, settings, narrative structures and characterisation, and they experiment with the assumptions and representations embedded in the texts.


Unit 2

Voices of Country

In this area of study students explore the voices, perspectives and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and creators. They consider the interconnectedness of place, culture and identity through the experiences, texts and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including connections to Country, the impact of colonisation and its ongoing consequences, and issues of reconciliation and reclamation.

The text in its context

In this area of study students focus on the text and its historical, social and cultural context. Students reflect on representations of a specific time period and/or culture within a text.



Units 3 & 4

In Units 3 and 4 students must study at least six texts (including an adapted text). The selection of texts should ensure that students experience a range of literature, from early to contemporary works, dealing with a diversity of cultural experiences and a range of points of view. Students are encouraged to read widely, guided by classroom exploration and their own interests, to support the achievement of all outcomes.

No text or part of a text studied in Units 1 and 2 may be studied again in Units 3 and 4.

Five texts must be selected from the VCE Literature Text List published by the VCAA for the year of study. All five texts selected from the text list must feature in teaching and learning programs, but students may be formally assessed on only four of these texts.

The selection of five texts must include:

· one novel

· one collection of poetry

· one play

· two further texts selected from novels, plays, collections of poetry, collections of short stories or other literature.

At least one of the texts selected must be Australian.

Students study a sixth text for Unit 3 Area of Study 1. The text used for Unit 3 Area of Study 1 must be an adaptation of one of the five required texts selected from the text list published by the VCAA.

The text may include but is not limited to a:

· live performance by a professional theatre company

· film or screenplay

· television mini-series

· play script.

A student adaptation cannot be used as the adaptation text for Unit 3 Area of Study 1.

Supplementary readings studied for Unit 3 Area of Study 2 are not prescribed.

In assessing levels of achievement across Units 3 and 4, teachers must ensure that the assessment tasks are based on a least five texts (including the adapted text). Students must not complete more than two assessment tasks using the same text.

To read the study design in full please click here. (23-27)