English Literature is one of the most popular A-Level subjects; it gives girls the opportunity to read and respond to many interesting books and to consider the issues they raise by having lively discussions with others.
Books are, ultimately, about life, and it is not an exaggeration to say that anyone who has studied English Literature will be better able to think and feel about their own life and that of others, and will be better able to express those thoughts and feelings. In lessons, we spend much of our time in discussion. There are rarely 'right' or 'wrong' answers in English Literature, only good and bad ones, so everybody's opinion is valuable, and valued.
At AS Level, five texts are studied. Two will be studied for examination: one poetry and one prose text. Both of these will have been written between 1800 and 1945. The other three will all have been written after 1990; girls will write two coursework essays (totalling 3,000 words).
At A2, six texts are studied. Three will be studied for examination: one Shakespeare play, and one drama and one poetry text, each of which will have been written before 1800. The other three will be studied for coursework, and girls will write one essay of 3,000 words. The texts may be from any period, and may include translated and non-fiction texts.
As well as the joy of studying English for itself, English Literature A-Level is a very suitable preparation for degrees in subjects such as History, Modern Languages, Linguistics, Politics, Law etc. It is also a very suitable preparation for any career which requires a skillful use of and understanding of the English language, such as law, journalism, public relations, publishing, media and many others.
