Edexcel A Level
Why study English Literature?
Do you enjoy the following at GCSE?
- Exploring your own response to texts
- Developing new ideas
- Lively discussion and debate
- Feeling liberated by the notion that there is no one right answer
- Analysing language and its subtleties and nuance
- Approaching novels, poems and plays in a variety of ways
If so, you will enjoy the challenge of A level English Literature. If you are looking even further ahead, the skills of creative and analytical thinking, confident oral communication and clear written expression are highly prized in the fields of Law, Journalism, Publishing and the Media, amongst others.
What will I study?
You will study eight texts across the course as a whole.
Our core curriculum texts include: A Streectcar Named Desire, King Lear, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, English Romantic Verse Anthology and the Forward anthology entitled ‘Poems of the Decade’. A further two texts will be studied as part of your coursework, but these text choices and the corresponding comparative question will be for you to decide.
At all stages of the course, you will develop your ability to understand both the macro and micro aspects of texts, developing critical opinions and engaging with the opinions of published academics. You will engage in regular classroom discussion to find, develop and defend your own readings of texts amongst like-minded individuals.
How will I study?
Some of the approaches to texts will be familiar to you from GCSE English Literature, and you will build on these to gain the confidence and experience to tackle unseen texts. A key difference is the level of independence you will be expected to demonstrate, as well as the necessity for you to develop your own, well-considered personal responses.
Much work will be discussion-based, with verbal responses and notes from lessons will be developed into essays. We run extensive extracurricual opportunities - including residentials, theatre trips and an Advanced Reading Group - for you to enhance your understanding of our studied texts and the wider literary canon.
How will my work be assessed?
80% of the A Level course will be examined by final, public exams, whilst 20% will be assessed through a comparative coursework essay of between 2,500 – 3,000 words.
What are the entry requirements?
English Language or Literature GCSE Grade 6 or above