English Literature

5 in Mathematics required

6 in English Language required

6 in English Literature (if taken at GCSE)

6 in an essay writing subject required if English Literature not taken at GCSE (e.g., History, Geography)

 

You will develop an appreciation of how writers shape meaning across a range of texts such as poetry, drama (including Shakespeare), novels and short stories. You will be able to assess how texts are influenced over time by historical, literary and cultural factors.

 

Our students have gone on to study English literature or an English-related degree course at a range of well-respected universities. Many will combine their study of literature with another subject and some will choose to go on to study other subjects at university that require similar skills, such as history, philosophy or law. Students studying literature at Woodhouse are likely to achieve final grades well above the national average.

 

You’ll take trips to the Globe and West End productions, attend lecture days with university professors, and experience cinema screenings of drama productions. We’ll also provide students with creative opportunities for collaborative work using video and drama, and poetry and design competitions.

 

 

You will study texts from medieval Chaucer through to Shakespeare and revenge drama, as well as more contemporary poetry and prose. You will explore a range of styles from Gothic fiction to 17th century Jacobean drama. Your examined units will focus on Shakespeare and drama pre-1900 and comparing a classic Gothic novel with Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber. Class discussions explore a range of adult themes such as forbidden desire, adultery, revenge, gender and power. In addition, you will complete two coursework assignments, one on a modern play and the other comparing 20th century poetry with a modern novel.

 

 

 

3 questions, closed text - 60 marks

 

Drama and poetry pre-1900

 

 

 

 

"What is most enjoyable in English literature lessons for me is exploring different texts, their contexts that establish their meaning and what lies beneath. Talking to my peers and discussing different viewpoints and ideas are central to the lessons. Not only do we learn what is necessary for the syllabus, but are exposed to new ideas.

 

English literature holds a prominent place in my future. It has always been the subject I wanted to take at university and I have applied for it. My interest started from reading and escapism, and as I learnt how to understand how an author is able to create something that we can escape into, it became a favourite task of mine to analyse texts and explore the different approaches.

 

I came to Woodhouse from a predominantly Jewish school and wanted a change - to be exposed to people that weren't just from my background. The relaxed college environment where teachers treat you like an adult spoke out to me. There are many things I like here; the way teachers will support you indefinitely and help you to achieve your best, the size of the college - which allows you to meet loads of different people. I have felt supported every step of the way with my Cambridge application which shows how much the college wants us to succeed."