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A-Level English LiteratureTSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > A Levels > A-Level Subject Guides II > A-Level English Literature
A-Level English LiteratureBackground information about studying English LiteratureEnglish Literature at A-Level is all about the in depth study of works of literature - primarily novels, plays, and poetry. Students will be expected to engage with contextual issues from the texts' time of composition - so the French Revolution in the poems of Wordsworth, or the state of the Monarchy in Shakespearean England for example - and will be encouraged to think critically and analytically about their reading. How will it differ from GCSE?DifficultyThe main difference in difficulty in the step up from GCSE to A-Level is in the level of response expected of you as students. No longer can you come to lessons and reply with "I thought it was ok". The onus is on you to engage with the texts you will be reading and formulate your own opinions and interpretations. Furthermore, you will be expected to communicate these ideas effectively, not just in essays and exams, but also during verbal discussions, which tend to make up a large part of the teaching structure. WorkloadThe workload can seem a lot harder for those students who are slower readers. As with all A-Levels, the workload will be higher than at GCSE as you are studying at a more focused level. Each week you may be expected to read a certain number of chapters of novels, or acts of plays; to write a critical response to a set question about your reading - which could be "Discuss the presentation of Iago in Act I of Othello" or "Evaluate how effectively the final verse of this poem portrays the feeling of loss" etc.; you could be asked to write a creative excerpt - such as a diary for the character of Juliet after Romeo's first visit. Of course, all teaching methods differ, but in class you can expect to be reading - silently or aloud, answering a series of short questions or an essay length one, and discussing various important issues. Required Individual StudyOn top of what your teachers set you, you will also be expected to utilise your free time to further your own studies. This could be by reading secondary material on the society that Oscar Wilde lived in, for example, or more academic texts that discuss and analyse a particular writer's style, such as a book that analyses Larkin's use of simile, metaphor and enjambement in The Whitsun Weddings. You may also wish to read around, either for personal pleasure, expanding your knowledge and, hopefully, vocabulary, or by reading texts relevant to your study - so if you're studying the Regeneration series by Pat Barker you may wish to read other WWII novels. How is it assessed?English Literature at A-Level will be made up of two modules per year - one exam based and one coursework based, with a weighting of 60% from the exam and 40% for the coursework. AQAExams
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OCRExams
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Field trips and excursionsGetting to know the plays you're studying in detail is vitally important, and given that plays are written to be performed, this could include knowledge of how it would be carried out on stage. You may have theatre trips arranged by your teachers so you can get see how these plays are performed, although you may simply have opportunities to see other related works by the authors you're studying. And don't forget, a theatre trip to London (if your school is close enough) should also give you some free time in the city! Where can I go with an English Literature A-LevelIt's a common misconception that English at A-Level, and subsequently degree level, limits your options to being a teacher. This simply isn't the case. Studying English develops your written and verbal communications skills, your ability to use words to your advantage and to think and respond analytically. Whilst this obviously does transfer from A-Level to degree level, these skills would be of benefit to students who wish to study Law, Forensic Science, Psychology, or Business - the list goes on. In the work place, communication skills developed through English study would benefit anyone who wishes to move up to management level; while a number of employers in the finance and computing sectors look to employ students with an English background to tailor their existing skills into the industry. User OpinionsUsername: Timewarp What I like about studying this subject: It makes you think in ways that my other subjects don't do and it enables you to develop your own opinions. There is no right or wrong as such and you can suggest something completely bizarre but as long as you can support it properly then it's right. I also quite like the books we study, which helps. At my sixth form we have a very good English department and both my teachers make the subject enjoyable whilst varying between individual work, group work, essays, discussion and presentations :D What I dislike about studying this subject: Sometimes when you have a double lesson it can be a bit tedious as there is a high volume of discussion involved. Also there's lots of essays which I suspect most people will dislike as well as me. Username: rebeccadaleyx What I like about studying this subject: For many reasons, one being that it doesn't just cover the subject of English Literature, it covers a broad range of subjects. Examples being; Psychology when looking into Freudian interpretations, History when looking into society at the time that the text has been written such as the Shakespearean era's fascination with witchcraft when looking at Macbeth or even Politics when looking into the Marxist school of thought for example. The subject is so fascinating and allows you to look so much deeper than just reading books! :) What I dislike about the subject: It is quite a demanding subject with the amount of books you have to read and the essays required, however if you enjoy reading and enjoy the books you are studying it does turn this negative into a positive. Username: AspiringGenius What I like about studying this subject: As a student who is taking three other Science/Maths A Levels, English Literature is a welcome break from the rigid, structured nature of my other studies. I concur with other users who feel English Literature allows one to explore more than just a story. In our class, we are studying The island of Dr Moreau by "HG Wells". In a short story of 130 words, we have not only delved into a complex and intense novel, but also into the battle between Science and Religion in Victorian England and the ethics of Vivisection. Whatever piece of Literature you are studying, A Level English Literature is so great because it challenges you to go beyond the text and get "to walk around in the skin a bit" of the author. What I dislike about studying this subject: I am an analytical person and the creative writing coursework was both challenging and stressful. Although it is helpful that one has a sensitive approach to the texts, it is important not to get too stressed out with the amount of work. You will have a deadline for one coursework and be set another around near enough the same time. Simultaneously, you will have to be studying poetry for the exam so there's a high concentration of work and sometimes, particularly around coursework deadlines, one can feel saturated by English. If you can get beyond this, it is a rewarding subject and, in my humble opinion, a fantastic education.
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