As with the English Language course, students will build on core knowledge and skills that have been developed throughout Key Stage 3. This includes the embedding and further development of the core threshold concepts at Key Stage 3.
Throughout the two-year course, students study a wide range of literature, including a Shakespeare play ('Macbeth'), a post 1914 play (Journey's End'), a 19th century novel ('Frankenstein') and poetry. Supplementary to this, students will explore extracts and poems from other works to broaden and deepen their understanding of the literary canon, as well as confidence at analysing and interpreting a range of texts.
As with Language, the department prides itself on its commitment to create expert readers, writers as speakers. As such, students will be guided in finding their analytical voice- ensuring that they are skilled at articulating their ideas and arguments through a variety of written and spoken mediums. Teachers encourage discussion and debate in order to strengthen understanding of the texts and build key disciplinary skills.
In English Literature students are assessed through examination. There are two papers which both assess students' analytical skills, each paper is worth 50% of the overall grade. Paper One will assess close reading skills in the form of an extract from 'Macbeth', as well as an essay on the broader themes and ideas of the text. They will also be required to write an response about 'Journey's End'. This paper is worth 50%. Paper Two will assess students' abilities to analyse an extract from 'Frankenstein' and explore key themes across the novel. As well as this, they will be comparing how ideas are presented in the poems from the poetry anthology and also compare two unseen poems.
Throughout the course you will be studying a range of poems, plays and novels. The texts studied are Frankenstein, Journey’s End, Macbeth and also Conflict poetry. You will be provided with copies of Frankenstein, Macbeth and the anthology of poems, however is would be advisable to purchase a copy of Journey’s End to record your own notes. We also have revision guides for all topics, which are available for purchase on ParentPay.
Career opportunities
For any path students wish to take they will be expected by employers to have essential English skills. These will be demonstrated through your GCSE qualification. English Literature qualifications are particularly useful if you want a career in teaching, journalism or law.
Post-16 opportunities
A good grade in English Literature means opportunities for further study of Literature, Law and Media Studies at A Level.