At Key Stage 5 we do A level English Literature with Edexcel. We are enthusiasts for imaginative literature and are keen to enthuse others. The set texts are varied and provide an insight into different genres and periods of literature. At present they include The Merchant’s Tale, Much Ado about Nothing and The Great Gatsby. There are more notes on what English Literature offers as an A level subject in the 6th form prospectus on this website.

Advanced Extension paper

Every year a number of Year 13 girls sit the Advanced Extension English paper. The results have been excellent. The preparation lessons provide opportunities for students to think and discuss beyond the requirements of the A level specification.

A level English Literature Texts

Year 12-Year 13. 2007-2009.

Unit 1: Drama and Poetry (6391). 2 hours. Open text.

Drama
Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire (in the volume ‘A Streetcar Named Desire and Other Plays). Penguin 0141 182 563.

Poetry
Edexcel Anthology.

Unit 2: Pre-1900 Prose (6392). 1 hour. Closed text.

Jane Austen: Emma (Penguin Classics ed. Fiona Stafford 014 043415 1)

Unit 3a: Shakespeare in Context (6393/01). Coursework.

Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing. Edited by F. H. Mares. (Cambridge University Press 0 521 532507).

Unit 4:Modern Prose (6394/01). Coursework.

F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby (Oxford’s World’s Classics 0 19 283269 7).

Unit 5: Poetry and Drama (6395). 2 hours. Open text.

Poetry
Chaucer: The Merchant’s Tale (CUP. ed. Hussey 0 521 04631 9).

Drama
Sheridan: The Rivals (New Mermaids. 2nd edition edited by Tiffany Stern 0 7136 6765 6).

Unit 6: Criticism and Comparison (6396). Synoptic unit. 2 hours. Closed text.

Unseen Poetry

Jane Austen: Emma. As for unit 2.
Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Popular Classics 014 062022 2).

Revised June 2007.