AS/A2 Level English Literature

LITB1 deals with "Aspects of Narrative", in other words, techniques like characterisation, scene-setting, structure, chronology, point of view and literary language. This is tested in a two hour examination which has two sections. Section A requires you to analyse in detail an extract from a novel or poem (or a whole poem in some cases) while Section B deals with an aspect of narrative technique across three of the four texts you will study (The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, and selections of poetry by Tennyson and Robert Frost). LITB2 comprises a folder of two coursework essays on the genre of Comedy: one will consider Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the other Educating Rita by Willy Russell. LITB3 ("Texts and Genres-- 60% of the A2 marks) aims to develop your ideas of the significance of genre in "Elements of the Gothic". Individual texts will be explored and evaluated against some of the commonly accepted principles of what constitutes "gothic" literature. LITB4 ("Further and Independent Reading" - 40% of the A2 marks) introduces you to the study of a wide range of texts, some of which may be of your own choosing. It also stresses different ways of reading texts, particularly in terms of modern literary critical approaches. AQA AS English Literature B develops your skills of critical reading, analytical investigation, appreciation of various literary/socio-historical contexts and your understanding of key themes. LITB1: tested in a two hour open book examination, worth 60% of AS and 30% of the full A level: you will write on narrative techniques and how they "tell the story" in selections from various texts and in the books as a whole (see above for the texts we are studying).You will answer on one text in Section A and three in Section B. You will study English Literature at Park Lane Campus. There will be an expectation that all students undertake 4 AS in year 1 and 3 A2 in year 2. Offers will be conditional on achieving 5 GCSEs at grade A*- C including English and Maths, plus 2 additional GCSEs at grade A*- C or 2 equivalent vocational qualifications, if recognised in Performance Tables. AS/A level English Literature is a superb preparation for University courses in English (it is highly regarded by H.E. institutions - including Oxford and Cambridge) and provides the degree of analytical rigour and cultural knowledge appropriate for a wide range of careers. If you are aged 19 or over and considering enrolling on a further education course at Level 3 or above, you may be entitled to an Advanced Learner Loan to help with course fees.