A Level English Literature

A Level English Literature Course Overview

You’ll get the chance to explore a variety of genres and literary periods and also acquire a set of analytical skills to use throughout your life.  Through drama, poetry and modern prose, you'll also really enhance your enjoyment of literature.

Pre-requisites

GCSE English/ English Literature at Grade C or above is recommended

Qualification

‘A’ Level in English Literature

Specification

AQA A-Level English Literature B (2745)

Support and benefits

• Flexible terms times
• Stepped learning approach
• Access to a dedicated tutor and student advisors to guide you through your studies
• Access to the ICS online Student Community, allowing you to interact with other students and browse our resource library
  

Unit 1 - Aspects of Narrative
Unit 2 - Dramatic Genres
Unit 3 - Texts and Genres
Unit 4 - Further and Independent Reading

Unit 1 – Aspects of Narrative

• Introduction

The aim of this unit is to introduce you to the central position of narrative in the ways in which literary texts work. The term narrative is taken in a broad sense here, involving many different aspects of literary representation, with particular focus on how narratives are constructed by authors, and the different ways in which they can be responded to by readers.

• Content

Four texts must be studied, two for Section A and two for Section B. In Section A at least one text written post 1990 must be studied. ICS has chosen to study the following texts:

Section A – Prose

• Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night–time
• F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Section B – Poetry 1800 – 1945

• Robert Browning
  • The Patriot
  • My Last Duchess
  • The Pied Piper of Hamelin
  • Porphyria’s Lover
  • Fra Lippo Lippi
  • The Bishop Orders his Tomb
• John Keats
  • Lamia
  • The Eve of St Agnes
  • La Belle Dame Sans Merci

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Unit 2 – Dramatic Genres

• Introduction

The aim of this unit is to introduce you to aspects of genre. As used here, the term refers both to a type of text described by its form, in this case drama, and a further sub-categorisation by content and method. For the first three years of this specification the dramatic genre to be studied will be tragedy. This unit also addresses the compulsory requirement of the study of at least one Shakespeare play.

• Content

You must study at least two plays within the dramatic genre of tragedy. At least one of the plays must be by Shakespeare. ICS has chosen to study the following plays:

• William Shakespeare's King Lear
• Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire

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Unit 3 – Texts and Genres

• Introduction

The aim of this unit is to develop ideas on the significance of genre which have been established during the AS course. Individual texts will be explored and evaluated against some of the commonly accepted principles of the chosen genre, and three texts (or more) will be compared as representatives of that genre.

• Content

You will study a minimum of three texts. At least one of these texts must be taken from the groups labeled 1300-1800. ICS has chosen to study the following texts:

Elements of the Gothic

1300-1800
William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Post 1800
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights

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Unit 4 – Further and Independent Reading

• Introduction

There are a number of aims to this unit. The first is to introduce you to the study of a wide range of texts, some of which may be of their own choosing. The second is to introduce you to different ways of reading texts for study, including independently. The third is to introduce you to some critical ideas, and for these ideas to be applied with discrimination to literary text.

• Content

You must study at least three texts. In the definition of text here, one of the three will be a pre-released anthology of critical writing applied to a piece of literature.

The pack of critical material is designed for specific use with coursework Unit 4, but will have wider application across the whole of A2 study of English Literature. It will therefore contribute significantly to the specification’s commitment to progression from AS, stretch and challenge and synopticity. It is designed to help you to make connections across texts, and to see that the study of Literature is underpinned by certain methods and ideas.

The purpose of the pre-released pack of critical material is to introduce you to some different ways in which the study of Literature can be approached. Once you have studied the material you will then apply some of it to a text or texts of your choice. ICS has chosen to study the following texts:

• Jane Austen's Emma
• Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
• Alan Bennett's Talking Heads

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A Level English Literature Course Code

H07

Technical Requirements

None

ICS Support Period

18 months

Assessment

AS Units – AS Award 1746

Unit 1- LITB1 Aspects of Narrative

• 60% of AS, 30% of A level
• Written paper. 2 hours. Open book
• 84 marks
• Four texts for study: two novels (at least one post 1990) and two poetry texts 1800- 1945. The paper has two sections. Candidates answer one question from each section.
• Available January and June

Unit 2 - LITB2 Dramatic Genres

• 40% of AS, 20% of A level
• Coursework
• 60 marks
• Minimum of two texts for study within dramatic genre of Tragedy.
• A portfolio of two pieces of written coursework (one may be re-creative) each 1200-1500 words.
• Available January and June

A2 Units – A2 Award 2746

Unit 3 - LITB3 Texts and Genres

• 30% of total A level
• Written paper. 2 hours. Closed book
• 80 marks
• Minimum three texts for study including at least one text 1300-1800.
• Candidates choose one topic area for study: Elements of the Gothic, or Elements of the Pastoral. For each topic there will be two sections. Candidates answer one question from each section.
• Available January and June

Unit 4 - LITB4 Further and Independent Reading

• 20% of A level
• Coursework
• 60 marks
• Minimum of three texts for study including one pre-released anthology of critical material. A portfolio of two pieces of written coursework: comparative study of an aspect of two texts (1500-2000 words); an application of an aspect of pre-released critical anthology to a literary text (1200-1500 words).
• Available January and June