English Literature
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind
AQA Specification A
The English Literature course here at Sheringham is designed to take you from the very early days of the written word, right up to the present day. You will study a wide variety of challenging texts in depth, as well as traversing the canon of English Literature as you prepare for the unseen elements of the exams. English Literature will challenge you. There are no two ways about it. This is a rigorous course with challenging texts and ideas, but the rewards are well worth the effort. You will be required to develop heightened analytical skills when considering a range of texts from the genres of prose, poetry and drama. You will research relevant contextual factors and learn to engage with literary criticism, in addition to gaining confidence in justifying your own interpretations and ideas. We are with you every step of the way to offer bespoke and personalised support.
If developing the power and variety of your writing skills is an appealing idea and you recognise that command of language is a valuable asset, you will find this course offers you the chance to cultivate your ability. The move from GCSE to A Level is demanding but if you apply yourself with determination you will gain the same success that previous students have achieved. Furthermore, you will have developed a capability for, and appreciation of, literature that will be of service to you in any further course or career you pursue and fill you with cultural riches that will last a lifetime.
You will study:
Unit 1: Love Through the Ages. A study of a Shakespeare text (The Winter's Tale), and a pre 20th century novel (Wuthering Heights) paired with a fantastic poetry anthology. We explore how love is presented across the full time period of literature through the preparation for the unseen poetry question.
Unit 2: Modern Identity. We study a novel (The Help), a poetry text (Duffy's Feminine Gospels) and a modern drama (either Top Girls or A Streetcar named Desire), dealing with the Modern and Post-Modern era and their treatment of the concept of identity.
Unit 3: Coursework. A 2500 word essay on a text studied in class, and a text of your own choosing.
Assessment
Unit 1 and 3 are covered in Year 12 and Unit 2 is covered in Year 13.
Careers/Further Education
Students studying English at Sheringham have been very dedicated and successful. Together with the high quality lesson experience, the department offers numerous trips and visits, including the annual jaunt to Shakespeare’s Stratford.
We are justly proud of our English students at Sheringham and believe them to be among the best prepared, liveliest and most personable students. Past students have gone on to study a wide range of degree courses at university, including, of course, English. This year, one of our students has gone on to study English at Cambridge.
For more information please contact Mrs Chanter
