English Literature A Level
What will I study?
Over the 2 years of this course you will study a variety of texts, including poetry, prose and drama.
Entry Requirements
In addition to our general entry requirements, you must have:
- GCSE English – grade 4
The Course
This course is for students who love reading a range of literary texts from different time periods. Over the course of two years, you will study poetry, prose and plays from the 17th century to the 21st century. You will also learn about the context of these texts and different critical interpretations of them. This course encourages you to form your own critical interpretations of texts and gives you the chance to explore your own area of interest in the coursework.
Course Activities
Students learn through a variety of activities including presentations, videos, analysing and annotating texts, writing, class discussions, group work and independent research. Students are expected to do a minimum of 4.5 hours each week of independent study. In this time, you will be revising what you have done in class, reading, preparing work for your next lesson or doing homework or coursework.
Course Structure and Assessment
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Module title and content |
Assessment |
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Paper 1: Poetry ( Pre and Post 1900)
You will study : · Christina Rossetti: Selected Poems (Penguin Classics) · Carol Ann Duffy: Mean Time (Picador) · Philip Larkin: The Whitsun Weddings (Faber) |
Section A: Poetry pre-1900
A two- part question on Christina Rossetti. Part one is a close analysis of one of her poems, whereas part two requires students to discuss a range of poems in response to a critical view of her work.
Section B: Poetry – Post 1900 One question ( from a choice of two) on Larkin and Duffy. The task is a comparative essay in which you discuss at least 2 poems from each writer.
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Paper 2: Drama
You will study:
· Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare · A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (Penguin Modern Classics) · The Duchess of Malfi by John webster (Methuen)
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Section A: Shakespeare A two-part question. Part one is a close analysis of an extract from Antony and Cleopatra and part two is an extended discussion of the whole play in response to a critical opinion.
Section B: Connections between one pre-1900 play and one post-1900 play. One question ( from a choice of two) on A Streetcar Named Desire and The Duchess of Malfi. The task is a comparative essay in response to a critical opinion.
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Paper 3: Unseen Texts ( poetry and prose)
You will study a range of prose ( novels, memoir) extracts and poems from any time period in order to prepare for this unseen examination. |
Section A: Unseen prose requires candidates to respond to one question from a choice of two. Each question will offer an unseen prose passage for analysis. Question 1 will take a prose passage from the period 1880-1910. Question 2 will take a prose passage from the period 1918-1939. Section B: Unseen poetry requires candidates to respond to one question from a choice of two. Each question will offer an unseen poem or poetry extract from any period. · 2 hour written examination · 80 marks (section A is 50 marks, section B carries 30 marks) · 20% of qualification
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Non- Examination Assessment: Prose Study
You will study two prose texts from different periods: one pre-2000 (students’ own choice) and one post- 2000 nominated by the centre. This is currently: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Faber & Faber
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Students produce one 2500- 3500 word extended essay comparing Klara and The Sun with a pre-2000 prose text of their own choice. · Coursework (internally assessed) · 20% of qualification · 120 marks
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Additional Information
Examination Board: Eduqas