ENGLISH LITERATURE (A Level)
What is English Literature A level?
In studying English Literature, students will develop into curious and critical readers who can confidently engage with a wide range of literature. Students will learn to reach an understanding of meaning through the close study of texts, in addition to examining how context shapes understanding. Reading widely and ferociously is the key to success in English Literature.
Exam Board: OCR
What’s English Literature A level like?
Watch our taster video.
What will I learn?
Drama and poetry texts pre-1900 - texts include Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Chaucer’s The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale.
Comparative and contextual study of American Literature 1880–1940 - core texts include The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath and students will also be expected to read further from the period, including Huckleberry Finn, Sister Carrie and My Antonia.
Critical and comparative analysis of three engaging texts - the poetry text is Carol Ann Duffy’s collection The World’s Wife, the comparison piece is on Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker and Inua Ellams' reimagining of Chekov's Three Sisters. These may be subject to change.
How will I be assessed?
80% of the assessment is exam
20% of the qualification is coursework.
Entry requirements
Grade 6 in English Language AND English Literature OR grade 7 in one of English LIterature or Language.
Where can English Literature A level take me?
Through literature, we can access ideas, thoughts and contexts which are entirely different from our own; this encourages students to develop empathy, curiosity and critical thinking skills.
The skills acquired in studying English Literature are many. On one hand, the imaginative and discursive elements of the course would be helpful in any Arts degree or creative industry; on the other hand, the ability to interpret, control and deploy language effectively is empowering on every level. The qualification is highly regarded by all universities.
Further reading and watching
Read
Reading these texts would improve your understanding of theme, form and genre: Charlotte Brontë - Jane Eyre; J.D. Salinger – Catcher in the Rye; Alice Walker - The Color Purple; J.M. Coatzee – Disgrace; Jeanette Winterson - Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?; Arthur Miller - The Crucible; Bernadine Evaristo - Girl, Woman, Other.
Watch
We suggest you can watch plays at any given opportunity. Access a wide range of plays at https:// www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/national-theatrecollection