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English Literature

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From the early traditions of storytelling, through medieval poetry and the wonder of Shakespeare, to the birth of the novel and the development of its current diversity, the Langton English curriculum encourages students to delve into new worlds and discover the magic of Literature.

Through the English Curriculum Pathway, students become creative thinkers, independent learners, discerning speakers, and judicious evaluators; they learn to contribute positively to society and develop an understanding of the place they will hold within it, as well as the value and power of their own voice. The diversity of the Literature studied enables students to gain an appreciation and understanding of the world around them, and to discover more about those that inhabit it and their own place within it.

Throughout their Langton Journey, students will be encouraged to find joy in exercising their creativity and developing their written and verbal communication skills; they will be taught not just to understand and use language, but to be able to craft and manipulate it for any purpose.

Alongside reading and writing, discussion and debate is a key part of the learning experience in English; this facilitates growth in students’ abilities to communicate clearly and assertively, as well as enabling them to build conviction in their own ideas.

In igniting passion and excitement for Literature and unlocking the joy in forming a perfectly-crafted sentence, the English curriculum - and extensive opportunities offered beyond the classroom - foster creativity in writing and a love for reading that will extend beyond their Langton Journey and feed students’ intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, and personal development throughout their lives.

Minimum Entry Criteria

Desired: 7 in English Literature and Language

Essential: 6 in English Literature and Language

Board

OCR

Outline of the Course

The OCR A Level in English Literature allows learners to undertake independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of literature, including its changing traditions. Students will explore a range of poetry, prose and drama, with a focused exploration of Gothic Literature.

Learners are encouraged to develop their interest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies as they:

  • read widely and independently both set texts and others that they have selected for themselves
  • engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them
  • develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation in writing
  • explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them

Assessment

 
Type of Assessment
Duration
Weighting
1
Drama and Poetry Pre 1900
Written Examination – closed text – 60 marks
Section A: Shakespeare (Hamlet) (2 extended questions)
Section B: Comparison of poetry (Milton’s Paradise Lost) and drama (Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi)
2 hours 30 minutes
40%
2
Comparative and Contextual Study (The Gothic)
Written Examination – closed text – 60 marks
Section A:  Close analysis of unseen extract
Section B: Comparison of Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
2 hours 30 minutes
40%
3
Literature Post 1900
Non-exam assessment – 40 marks – two tasks
A close reading or re-creative task with commentary focused on Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire
A comparative essay on one prose and one drama text (student choice)
4 weeks

6 weeks
20%

Summer Assignment - English Literature

Sixth Form Programme of Courses.pdf

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