English Literature
This is a course for those of you who love reading and enjoy sharing your views on literature with like-minded souls.
The success of the course has been due largely to its emphasis on welcoming students’ own perceptions of texts rooted in enjoyment and critical reflection.
You will follow AQA Specification B. This has two units at AS, 'Aspects of Narrative' and 'Dramatic Genres'. You will read Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, Small Island by Andrea Levy and poetry by W.H.Auden and Robert Browning for the first unit, which is assessed by an end of course exam in which you can use your texts. The second unit is coursework and the theme is Tragedy. You will study A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Shakespeare's Othello. You will be able to frame your own coursework questions.
At A2 you will study 'Elements of the Gothic' for one unit, reading The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, Dracula by Bram Stoker, and Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. This will be assessed at the end of the course in a closed book examination. Your coursework unit will consist of two pieces. One is a comparative piece for which you will choose your texts and formulate your own question. The second piece is a critical appraisal of one text (which could be a poem) using what you have learned from studying critical approaches to Literature.
Aspects of Narrative gives 60% of your AS and 30% of your A Level marks; Dramatic Genres, 40% and 20%. Texts and Genres (Gothic) is 30% of the total A Level and Coursework 20%.
A popular feature of the course is its extra-curricular activity: you can expect theatre visits and ‘field trips’ designed to illuminate key set texts. Recent trips have included a long weekend in the Lake District, a full day in London at the Imperial War Museum, Westminster Abbey and the theatre, and visits to Newstead Abbey. We also take advantage of local study days. Recent theatre visits have ranged from A Woman of No Importance in Oxford to Oh! What a Lovely War at the Sandfield Centre, Nottingham and Othello at The Old Rep in Birmingham.
Progression to study English at Degree level is good and our students often keep in touch, whether they go on to read the subject at Oxbridge or decide to stay local. We pride ourselves on the quality of our working relationships with our students.
Entry qualifications: grade C in English and English Literature if you sat both subjects and a passion for reading!