English Literature A Level (Full AS + A2)

This distance learning A Level English Literature course has been designed to the latest specifications. The first available exam dates for this version of the Pearson Edexcel English Literature A Level are in June 2017.

English Literature is a wonderful subject that can open windows into many different areas. A sound knowledge of English Literature is essential if you want to fully understand the history and philosophy of the nation. It can also help to enhance and enrich the reading experience, providing a multi-layered, deeper understanding of the texts we all love.

On this course you will study a variety of prose, poetry and drama, including well known names like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and Mary Shelley. All of the authors that appear in the A Level often feature heavily in university curriculums, making it an excellent preparation for higher education.

In accordance with the latest specifications, this course has been designed to encourage students to:

• Read widely and independently 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
• Explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others' interpretations of them
• Undertake independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of English literature, including its changing traditions.

Course Contents

• The AQA A-Level English Literature B - Overview
• The AQA Website
• The Assessment Objectives: What are the Examiners Looking For?
• Study Skills for English Literature
• Answering Questions in English Literature

Unit LITB1: Aspects of Narrative

• Topic One - Introduction to Aspects of Narrative
• Topic Two - Time and Sequence as an Aspect of Narrative
• Topic Three - Introduction to The Great Gatsby
• Topic Four - Chapter One of The Great Gatsby
• Topic Five - Characterisation
• Topic Six - Voices in Texts
• Topic Seven - Scene and Place as an Aspect of Narrative
• Topic Eight - The Introduction of Gatsby
• Topic Nine - Time and Scene
• Topic Ten - Point of View
• Topic Eleven - Destination
• Topic Twelve - TMA 1: Short Answer Questions
• Topic Thirteen - Introduction to The Road
• Topic Fourteen - Time and Sequence
• Topic Fifteen - Characterisation and Voices in the Text
• Topic Sixteen - Characterisation and Character Development
• Topic Seventeen - Scene and Place: A Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland
• Topic Eighteen - Scene and Place: A Contrast of Two Houses
• Topic Nineteen - Scene and Place: A Third House
• Topic Twenty - Voices in the Text
• Topic Twenty-One - Point of View
• Topic Twenty-Two - Character Development
• Topic Twenty-Three - The Coast
• Topic Twenty-Four - Destination
• Topic Twenty-Five - Reading Poetry
• Topic Twenty-Six - The Road Not Taken
• Topic Twenty-Seven - Imagery and its Use in After Apple Picking
• Topic Twenty-Eight - Out, Out
• Topic Twenty-Nine - The Draft Horse
• Topic Thirty - The Axe-Helve
• Topic Thirty-One - The Wood Pile
• Topic Thirty-Two - A Considerable Speck and An Unstamped Letter
• Topic Thirty-Three - W.H. Auden Selection As I Walked Out One Evening
• Topic Thirty-Four - Musee des Beaux Arts
• Topic Thirty-Five - September 1, 1939
• Topic Thirty-Six - O What Is That Sound?
• Topic Thirty-Seven - Lighter Poems
• Topic Thirty-Eight - Overview of the Poems
• Topic Thirty-Nine - Preparing For The Examination

Unit LITB2: Dramatic Genres - Comedy

• Topic One - Introduction to Unit Two
• Topic Two - Introduction to Dramatic Genres
• Topic Three - Introduction to Comedy
• Topic Four - The Importance of Being Earnest
• Topic Five - Act I (First Part)
• Topic Six - Act I: Characterisation
• Topic Seven - Act II (First Part)
• Topic Eight - Types of Comedy in Act II
• Topic Nine - Act III
• Topic Ten - Critical Approaches, Themes and Interpretations
• Topic Eleven - Generating Coursework Ideas for Earnest
• Topic Twelve - Introduction to Twelfth Night
• Topic Thirteen - Act I: Situation and Set-Up
• Topic Fourteen - Act II: Building Comic Expectations
• Topic Fifteen - Act III: Comedy and Complications / The Role of Feste
• Topic Sixteen - Act III, Scene IV: The Comic Centre of the Play
• Topic Seventeen - Act IV: Malvolio
• Topic Eighteen - Act V: Resolutions and Happy Endings
• Topic Nineteen - Choosing Coursework Titles for Twelfth Night
• Topic Twenty - Writing Your Coursework Essays

Unit LITB3: Texts and Genres - Elements of the Gothic

• Topic One - Unit LITB3: Texts and Genres
• Topic Two - Elements of the Gothic
• Topic Three - Critical Responses and Approaches to the Gothic
• Topic Four - Introduction to The White Devil
• Topic Five - Act I
• Topic Six - Act II
• Topic Seven - Act III
• Topic Eight - Act IV
• Topic Nine - Act V
• Topic Ten - Frankenstein
• Topic Eleven - Form, Structure and Language
• Topic Twelve - Characterisation
• Topic Thirteen - Themes and Allusions
• Topic Fourteen - Critical Receptions and Approaches
• Topic Fifteen - Frankenstein and The Gothic
• Topic Sixteen - Introduction to The Bloody Chamber
• Topic Seventeen - 'The Bloody Chamber'
• Topic Eighteen - 'The Courtship of Mr Lyon?' and 'The Tiger's Bride'
• Topic Nineteen - 'Puss-in-Boots'
• Topic Twenty - 'The Erl-King'
• Topic Twenty-One - 'The Snow Child'
• Topic Twenty-Two - 'The Lady of the House of Love'
• Topic Twenty-Three - 'The Werewolf' and 'The Company of Wolves'
• Topic Twenty-Four - 'Wolf-Alice'
• Topic Twenty-Five - Making Connections Between Stories
• Topic Twenty-Six - Preparing For The Examination

Unit LITB4: Further and Independent Reading

• Topic One - Overview of Unit LITB4
• Topic Two - Introducing the AQA Critical Anthology
• Topic Three - Section A: Political Readings
• Topic Four - Section B: The Meaning of Metaphor
• Topic Five - Section C: Beauty and Value in Literature
• Topic Six - Your Coursework Task on the Application of Critical Ideas
• Topic Seven - The Comparative Essay: Choosing Texts
• Topic Eight - Making Connections Across Texts
• Topic Nine - Compare and Contrast: Your Comparative Essay Title
• Topic Ten - Writing Your Coursework Essays

Recommended Reading

To complete this course you will need to have access to the following text books.

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald;
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy; (Picador 2009 edition)
• A Selection of Poetry by Robert Frost; and
• A Selection of Poetry by W.H. Auden
• The White Devil by John Webster (pre-1800);
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; and
• The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter.
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
• Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Exams

Exams are taken at an AQA centre and we can provide an extensive list of centres for you.

This course is ideal for those wishing to increase their general knowledge of English literature or for those seeking to progress to study English literature or related subjects at a higher level.

We only require that students have basic English reading and writing skills, as full tutor support is given.