English Literature

Course Aims

• To develop confident, independent and reflective readers of a range of texts
• To encourage students to express responses effectively
• To encourage the use of critical concepts and terminology with understanding and discrimination
• To encourage students to reflect on their own responses to texts, to consider others’ interpretations and to develop an awareness of the cultural and historical contexts in which texts are written
• To encourage students to use detailed knowledge of the text to explore comparisons and connections between them

AS Level Unit Contents:

Unit 1 Explorations in Prose and Poetry

• Prose and poetry, including texts from 1800 to 1945
• One prescribed selection of poetry
• One prescribed core literary heritage novel and one further novel or novella

Students will learn how the features of the genres of prose fiction and poetry function; how writers use language in a variety of forms; the different ways that texts can be interpreted by different readers; and the ways texts can be grouped and compared to inform interpretation

Assessment: External examination 2 hours 15 minutes
Clean copies of the prescribed examination texts must be used in the examination
Section A - Unseen poetry or unseen prose, short-answer response
Section B - Poetry essay response
Section C - Prose essay response

Unit 2 Explorations in Drama

• Shakespeare and drama, including plays from 1300 to 1800
• Free choice of Shakespeare and other texts

Students will learn the relevance of genre in relation to the particular texts studied and how texts are influenced by literary conventions; how playwrights use dramatic forms to evoke responses in audiences; ways to construct critical arguments

Assessment: 2000-2500 words maximum, including quotations
Two responses - explorative study and creative critical response
Teacher assessed - internally standardised, externally moderated

A2 Level Unit Contents

Unit 3 – Interpretations of Prose and Poetry

• Prose and poetry, including texts published after 1990
• Three prescribed texts from a choice of six, including at least one text published after 1990 and both prose and poetry

In this unit students will develop the skills in reading and responding to texts that they acquired at AS Level. They will engage will recently published texts as well as other texts from different periods. In particular, they must respond critically to at least one text published after 1990. They are expected to comment on unseen prose or poetry and their response will be informed by the reading skills they have developed through their course as a whole. Students will compare and contrast texts from different genres. Their independent responses will be informed by an appreciation of the contexts in which texts are written and ready and by the interpretations of other readers over time.

Assessment: External examination 2 hours 45 minutes
Clean copies of the prescribed examination texts must be used in the examination
Section A - Unprepared prose or poetry
Section B - Analytical essay

Unit 4 – Reflections in Literary Studies

• Poetry, prose or drama for independent study
• Free choice of texts

This unit allows students free choice of texts in order to undertake independent reading and research. The three texts chosen could include works of literary criticism or cultural commentary.

Assessment: 2500-3000 words maximum, including quotations
Either one extended study, or two shorter studies, or a creative response with a commentary
Teacher assessed - internally standardised, externally moderated