Students in Classroom

English Literature

Overview

English Literature allows students to read widely and independently, and engage with texts critically and creatively. You will develop your knowledge of literary analysis which will enable you to develop your own critical voice by exposing you to key authors and critics, and the way such writers have responded to texts and contexts.

Entry Requirements

Students are expected to have at least grade 5 in GCSE English Literature.

Learning & Assessment

Modules / Topics

Component 1: Drama
Section A: 'Othello' 
Section B: ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams
Component 2: Prose - Science and Society
'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley
'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood
Component 3: Poetry
Section A: Contemporary Poetry – Poetry of the Decade Anthology
Section B: Poetry Collections – The Romantics (1780-1830)
Component 4: Coursework
Students study ‘The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories’ by Angela Carter and a free choice of one other text.

Trips / Visits / Enrichment

Past students have visited local theatres and cinemas and been on trips to areas of literary interest (Whitby, Haworth, London). Visits have been made to the college by university lecturers, poets and writers. The subject is also enriched by book weeks, poetry weeks, Shakespeare week,  a college magazine and a hugely successful creative writing group.

Assessment

Assessments will be on-going throughout both years. This will consist of weekly assessments, formal assessments, and a mock exam.

At the end of Year 13 there will be three external exams:

Component 1: Drama Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes. 30%

Component 2: Prose Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes. 20%

Component 3: Poetry Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes. 30%

Component 4: Coursework 2500-3500 words. 20%

What do our students say?

 
 
 
I saw the benefits of attending a Sixth Form College almost immediately after I started. The freedom to work at my own pace and the way I was treated as an adult, boosted my confidence that I could achieve exactly what I wanted...
 
 
 
Helen Chong , English Literature
Read Helen Chong's Story  

  • The Art of Fiction,   David Lodge
  • Shakespeare on Toast, Ben Crystal
  • The Ode Less Travelled, Stephen Fry

At degree level English Literature can be studied as a single subject or can be combined with English Language or a wide range of other subjects. It can also lead to a number of English related degrees, specifically creative writing and journalism, and it could be a core subject for a teaching qualification. It is a subject which has transferable skills and those who study English Literature have a wide range of career opportunities including content writing, advertising and marketing, alongside opportunities in the arts and culture sector.

Think English Literature is right for you?

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