How to exceed in English Literature!????

Yes, you will need to know some key literary terms - you'll need to know the difference between what a simile is and what a metaphor is, for instance. But, as the poster above says, this is not just a case of showing off your vocabulary. (In fact, there are many students one, a well known YouTuber I could mention who tried and failed to get into Oxford, who constantly peppers her conversation with what she imagines to be sophisticated vocabulary - the problem is, she does not know the appropriate way to use these words and comes off looking both ignorant and pretentious as a result.) Use simple terms you are comfortable with, but make your arguments sophisticated.

If you want to do well, know the text really, really well. Write a well structured essay, that sign posts your key arguments. Use appropriate quotes to illustrate your arguments. Do not be afraid to take issue with literary criticism, as long as you can go back to the text and back up your argument. try and develop your own thoughts here, rather than just relying on what your teacher has told you.

The more you read, the more your practise writing essays, the sharper your arguments will become. Writing is a discipline, as much as anything else, but you need to develop that muscle. read around the texts if you really want to do well. This will also help if you are intending to study English Literature at university, as you will be asked "what, aside from your core texts have you been reading?' For instance, if you are reading "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen, for your A Level, read a couple of her other novels. You can then throw in references to your wider frame of knowledge, such as: "this is typical of Austen's writing, as she also relies on the use of irony in "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice". You aren't going off piste, doing an exploration of what is irrelevant to your examination of 'Mansfield Park", you are merely broadening out the scope to demonstrate your knowledge.

I hope that helps. keep reading though, and keep striving to improve. You will get there if you keep practising,