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ENGLISH (A Level)

What is English Literature A level?

In studying English Literature, students will develop into curious and critical readers who can confidently engage with a wide range of literature. Students will learn to reach an understanding of meaning through the close study of texts, in addition to examining how context shapes understanding.Reading widely and ferociously is the key to success in English Literature.

Exam Board: OCR

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What will I learn?

  • Drama and poetry texts pre-1900 - texts include

    Shakespeare’s The Tempest, The Duchess of Malfi

    and Christina Rossetti Poetry

  • Comparative and contextual study of American

    Literature 1880–1940 - core texts include The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath and students will also be expected to read further from the period, including Huckleberry Finn, Sister Carrie and My Antonia.

  • Critical and comparative analysis of three engaging texts - the poetry text is Carol Ann Duffy’s collection The World’s Wife, the comparison piece is on Tennessee William’s ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and Diana Evans’ ‘Ordinary People. These may be subject to change.

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How will I be assessed?

  • 80% of the assessment is exam

  • 20% of the qualification is coursework.

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Entry requirements

Grade 6 in both English Language and Literature GCSEs (or a grade 7 in one of the two)​

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Where can English A level take me?

Through literature, we can access ideas, thoughts and contexts which are entirely different from our own; this encourages students to develop empathy, curiosity and critical thinking skills.


The skills acquired in studying English Literature are many. On one hand, the imaginative and discursive elements of the course would be helpful in any Arts degree or creative industry; on the other hand, the ability to interpret, control and deploy language effectively is empowering on every level. The qualification is highly regarded by all universities.

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Further reading and watching

Read

Reading these texts would improve your understanding of theme, form and genre: 

Charlotte Brontë - Jane Eyre; 

J.D. Salinger – Catcher in the Rye; 

Alice Walker - The Color Purple; 

J.M. Coatzee – Disgrace; 

Jeanette Winterson - Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?; 

Arthur Miller - The Crucible.

Watch

Bernadine Evaristo - Girl, Woman, Other.
We suggest you can watch plays at any given opportunity. Access a wide range of plays at https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/national-theatre-collection