Course Description

Throughout the two year course, you will study a wide variety of poetry, prose and drama texts that are linked thematically and by era. You will gain an understanding of how social and historical contexts influence the writing and reception of a variety of texts. You will be expected to read widely and will therefore extend your understanding of and enthusiasm for Literature in all its forms. The two year course gradually builds the skills required for the analysis of literature through a combination of classic and modern texts, from ancient literature to post-2000 poetry and everything in between.

The course assessments will comprise of 20% Coursework and 80% Examination that will assess your analytical skills and ability to assimilate the views of others as well as formulating your own responses.

Selected Texts

Prose

  • Atonement – Ian McEwan
  • Hard Times – Charles Dickens

Drama

  • A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams
  • Othello – William Shakespeare

Poetry

  • A Post 2000 collection
  • A selection of Christina Rossetti’s poems

The coursework (NEA) will allow you a greater degree of freedom in the choice of texts you examine, as well as encouraging you to explore links and comparison in terms of setting, character, context and narrative. Popular choices in the past have included, A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hoesseini), The Color Purple (Walker), Wuthering Heights (Bronte) and Frankenstein (Shelley)

What could I do next?

English Literature is highly regarded by Higher Education institutions and employers. Through your study of this course you will become an informed, independent reader with excellent research skills and this will stand you in good stead for any course you might choose to study at degree level. Typically, students who study Literature move on to careers in journalism and law as well as teaching and the media.