English Literature at AS
and A Level
The Definitive Guide
‘people who know nothing about
Literature know nothing about
life…’
AS English Literature
At AS Level you will study
different literary genres
and periods.
You will have one exam
and one extended piece of
coursework.
What Kind of Things Will I Do and What Skills
Will I Develop?
In this course you will:
• Explore the cultural/historical and social
contexts in which the texts were written
• Analyse the writers’ use of literary
technique.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of
key themes and literary genres and literary
periods.
• Discuss how texts can be interpreted in
more than one way.
• Compare texts.
• Develop creative writing, communication,
discussion and analytical skills.
LT1 Exam
• Analysis of poetry.
• You will study two modern
poets: Sheenagh Pugh and
Carol Ann Duffy
LT1 Exam
• These poets have lots of opinions
about the modern world and often
approach this in a humorous way.
• Factoid: Duffy takes old myths and
makes them modern. Be prepared to
read about Mrs Midas and Mrs
Darwin and not their more famous
husbands!
LT1 Exam
You will also study a post 1990
drama text called ‘Broken
Glass’ by Arthur Miller.
Factoid: did you know that Arthur
Miller was once married to
Marilyn Monroe?
How Long is the Exam?
• A whopping two and a half
hours!
• Make sure you get plenty of
sleep the night before.
LT2 Coursework
There are 2 parts to this
extended coursework:
• Prose study
• Creative Reading
• The folder of coursework you
submit will be 3 pieces of work
totalling 3000 words.
LT2 Prose Study
You will study a text written between 18001945 and compare this novel to another
novel either from the same time period or
later time period. At the moment we
study:
• ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte,
‘Enduring Love’ by Ian McEwan and ‘Jane
Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte
• Factoid: Ian McEwan wrote ‘Atonement’
which was recently given the Hollywood
film treatment and starred Keira Knightley
and James McAvoy.
LT2 Prose Study
• You will then write a piece of
coursework of approximately
1500 words on two of these
novels based on character or
theme.
LT2 Creative Reading
This part of your coursework folder
includes the following:
• A 750 word creative writing piece
based on a literary genre e.g. gothic
fiction, travel writing or a particular
author e.g. Martin Amis, F. Scott
Fitzgerald, Margaret Atwood
• A 750 word commentary on how you
used the stimulus text (the author or
text you have chosen) and developed
your own creative piece.
LT2 Creative Reading
• This piece of coursework allows you
the freedom to explore the type of
literature you enjoy and write
creatively.
• Factoid (sort of): you may enjoy this
part of the course so much you
decide you want to be a writer,
become really famous and have your
book turned into a film that stars
Keira Knightley as well!
A2 English Literature
• Again, in year 13, the course is
made up of an exam and a
folder of coursework.
LT3 Coursework
• You will produce a folder of
approximately 3000 words on
analysing three texts from different
literary periods and genres e.g.
Renaissance period, twentieth
century or Victorian period
• The emphasis in this module is on
independent research and reading
allowing you to choose what you
enjoy (with our guidance of course.)
LT4 The Exam
• The only exam you will sit will
include questions on the following:
• Shakespeare and another drama text
e.g. ‘Hamlet’ and ‘The Revenger’s
Tragedy’
• Pre 1800 poetry e.g. Chaucer’s ‘The
Wife of Bath’
• An unseen poem
LT4 The Exam
How long? Another whopping
two and a half hours.
Should I Study English
Literature?
The answer is most certainly yes if you are the
type of student who:
• Enjoys reading
• Enjoys discussing and analysing.
• Enjoys trips to the theatre and other cultural
pursuits.
• Want to gain insights into philosophy, history and
politics through literature.
• Wants to develop writing and communication
skills.
• Wants a career in the media, journalism,
business, law, teaching or the arts.
We feel passionately about English
Literature and really want you to feel
the same.
‘Literature makes us better
noticers of life; we get to
practice on life itself; which in
turn makes us better readers of
detail in literature; which in turn
makes us better readers of life.’
• Thank you for listening
• Hope to see you next
September
• Any questions?