English Literature A Level

Board: AQA

This course offers a challenging exploration of drama, prose, and poetry across time. You will engage critically and creatively with a wide range of texts, from canonical works to contemporary voices, developing a nuanced understanding of how literature reflects and challenges society. Through close reading, discussion, and independent study, you’ll learn to develop and effectively apply your knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation, honing skills in argument, interpretation, and expression. This course fosters intellectual curiosity, developing candidates’ abilities as informed, independent readers – skills that are invaluable for university and beyond.

Paper 1: Drama This unit comprises of the study of two texts: one Shakespearean tragedy and one other drama. The unit is assessed through an open book examination of 2 hours and 15 minutes and is worth 30% of the total qualification.

Paper 2: Prose This unit comprises of the study of two prose texts. These texts will be thematically linked (Science and Society and/or the Supernatural) with at least one of the prose texts being published pre-1900. The unit is assessed in an open book examination of 1 hour 15 minutes and is worth 20% of the final A-level qualification. 

Paper 3: Poetry The unit focusses on the study of poetic form, meaning and language. It comprises of one post-2000 poetry anthology and a specified range of Romantic and/or Victorian poetry. The unit is assessed in an open book examination of 2 hours and 15 minutes and is worth 30% of the total A-level qualification.

Non-examination Assessment: The unit is the comparative study of two texts. The unit is assessed through one extended comparative essay of 2500-3000 words and is worth 20% of the total A-level qualification.

You need to have gained a grade 5 in English Literature, as well as meeting the standard entry criteria.

All students will need to enjoy reading novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction and must understand that success in this qualification is largely dependent on independent wider reading as well as the study of set texts. English Literature may be successfully combined with any number of other subjects: complementary areas include History, Sociology or Modern Languages, but this subject can prove a valuable addition to any combination of other subjects as it helps to develop candidates’ skills in the essential areas of reading for meaning and analytical thinking.

A qualification in English Literature is an excellent grounding for any number of careers, particularly those that require the ability to communicate clearly, in speech or writing, and those that require the ability to analyse. Those interested in journalism, media, law or the civil service would benefit from studying English Literature.

For more information about the course, please see Mrs Mooney or Mrs Jones