English Literature A Level

Thank you for your interest in Lord Nelson Sixth Form at Ormiston Victory Academy.

All of our applications are now made using Applicaa, which can be accessed through the following link:

https://victory.applicaa.com/

English Literature offers an opportunity to explore a range of exciting and challenging texts: from the greats such as Shakespeare and Keats, to more modern icons such as Margaret Atwood and Tennessee Williams. The course encourages you to grapple with deeper themes, explore connections between texts, and offer your own interpretations.

• A Shakespeare play (Othello or Hamlet) and a drama text (A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams)
• Two prose texts from the theme of Science and Society (The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley)
• A selection of post-2000 specified poetry and the works of a named poet within a literary period (John Keats)
• One extended comparative essay referring to two texts which may be selected from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction
  

Students will be expected to read the set texts independently, research context, and come to lessons prepared to discuss characters and themes. Essays and extended writing will be set frequently, both in class and as homework. Whilst the texts are incredibly engaging, they can be challenging, so students will need to be committed and resilient.

To study A Level qualifications: A minimum of 36 points. These points will be accumulated from your top 8 KS4 grades. For example, a student who achieves the following grades would meet the entry criteria.

E.g 6+6+5+5+4+4+3+3 = 36 points (Average grade 4.5)

Some A level qualifications will require a grade 6 to access them (please check with subject curriculum leaders if this applies to their course)

Entry criteria is a guide and interviews will be conducted with candidates to confirm if they are suitable to follow their selected courses.

English Literature is viewed as a ‘facilitating subject’ by many universities, as they recognise how challenging the subject is and the range of skills covered over by course.

Possible university courses:

English Literature, English Literature and Language, Media Studies, Film Studies, Journalism, Drama

Possible careers:

Journalist, Editor, Publisher, Public Relations, Writer, Marketing