English Literature

Poetry

Component 1, Section A: Poetry pre-1900 is an open-book, clean copy examination requiring the study of one pre-1900 poetry text from a prescribed list. Candidates must answer a two-part question: part (i) focuses on close analysis of a specific poem or extract, and part (ii) requires wider knowledge and understanding of the text as a whole.

Poetry pre-1900 (open-book, clean copy), Poetry post-1900 (open-book, clean copy)

Drama

Component 2, Section A: Shakespeare (closed-book) requires candidates to study one play from a prescribed list (King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, Henry IV Part 1, or The Tempest). The assessment consists of one two-part question: part (i) is an extract-based analysis, and part (ii) requires wider knowledge and understanding of the play as a whole.

Shakespeare (closed-book), Drama (closed-book)

Unseen Texts

Component 3, Section A: Unseen prose requires candidates to analyse an unseen passage of prose from one of two prescribed periods (1880-1910 or 1918-1939). Candidates must demonstrate their ability to analyse how meanings are shaped by writers, consider relevant contexts, and explore how texts may be read in more than one way. The examination includes supporting contextual and critical extracts to assist in the analysis.

Unseen prose, Unseen poetry

Prose Study (Non-exam assessment)

Component 4 is a non-exam assessment (NEA) requiring a 2500-3500 word assignment based on the comparative study of two prose texts by different authors, one published pre-2000 and one published post-2000. The component focuses on independent, sustained study, exploring literary traditions, genres, and contextual influences.

Non-exam assessment: 2500-3500 word assignment

Antony and Cleopatra

Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra explores the tragic intersection of personal passion and political power, charting the downfall of the Roman triumvir Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. The play dramatises the conflict between duty to Rome and the allure of Eastern excess, examining how their love affair destabilises empires and ultimately leads to both rulers' suicides.

Sylvia Plath Selected Poems

This subtopic explores a selection of Sylvia Plath's most significant poems, focusing on her intense, confessional style and the interplay of personal experience and myth. Students analyse how Plath employs imagery, language, and form to address themes of identity, mental anguish, and societal expectations, while also considering the critical and contextual factors that shape interpretation. Practical application includes developing skills of close reading, comparative analysis, and evaluating diverse critical perspectives to construct sophisticated literary arguments.

Under Milk Wood

This topic focuses on Dylan Thomas's 'Under Milk Wood', a radio drama that captures a day in the life of the fictional Welsh seaside village of Llareggub. Students will explore the play's rich poetic language, its innovative use of sound and voice, and its vivid characterization to examine themes of community, dreams, memory, and mortality. The text serves as a platform for analyzing the intersection of drama and poetry, and understanding how Thomas's lyrical style shapes meaning and audience experience.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

This subtopic delves into Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', a tragic novel that critiques late Victorian society through the story of Tess Durbeyfield. Students explore themes of fate, class, gender, and religion, analysing how Hardy's use of language, narrative voice, and symbolism constructs a devastating critique of social hypocrisy and sexual double standards.

The Kite Runner

This subtopic involves an in-depth literary analysis of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, focusing on its exploration of guilt, redemption, and the complex socio-political landscape of Afghanistan. Students will examine narrative structure, character development, and the use of symbolism to understand how the novel addresses universal human experiences within a specific cultural and historical context.

The Merchant of Venice

This subtopic involves an in-depth critical study of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice', exploring its complex interplay of comedy, tragedy, and romance. Students analyse characterisation, themes such as justice, mercy, and prejudice, and the play's relevance to both Elizabethan and contemporary audiences. Practical application includes developing skills in literary analysis, constructing persuasive arguments, and engaging with critical interpretations.

Owen Sheers Selected Poems

This subtopic involves the in-depth study of selected poems by Owen Sheers, focusing on how his work engages with themes of landscape, identity, memory, and conflict. Through close analysis of language, structure, and poetic techniques, students explore Sheers’ distinctive voice and his contribution to contemporary poetry, while considering the cultural and historical contexts that shape his work. Practical application includes developing skills in critical reading, essay writing, and comparative analysis, preparing students for examinations and further study.

The Duchess of Malfi

The Duchess of Malfi is a Jacobean revenge tragedy that explores corruption, power, and gender dynamics through the story of a widowed duchess who defies her brothers by secretly marrying her steward, Antonio. The play delves into themes of misogyny, social class, and morality, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and psychological torment. Students examine Webster's use of dark imagery, complex characterisation, and dramatic techniques to critique the patriarchal society of early 17th-century Italy and England.

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is a complex Victorian novel that defies conventional narrative structure, employing a multi-layered frame narrative and unreliable narrators to explore the destructive force of obsessive love across generations. Set on the wild Yorkshire moors, the novel juxtaposes the opposing worlds of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, examining how the imposition of civilised values upon natural passion results in tragedy, psychological turmoil, and social decay. Its enduring literary significance lies in its radical treatment of themes such as class, gender, and the supernatural, challenging readers to grapple with the moral ambiguity of its characters and the dark recesses of human emotion.

Wide Sargasso Sea

This subtopic examines Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea as a postcolonial and feminist response to Jane Eyre, concentrating on the deconstruction of Bertha Mason through the tragic figure of Antoinette Cosway. Students will analyze how Rhys employs fragmented narrative, Creole identity, and the clash of cultures to critique colonial power structures and the oppression of women. The study fosters advanced skills in intertextual analysis and appreciation of marginalized perspectives in literary canons.

R.S. Thomas Selected Poems

R.S. Thomas’s selected poems offer a profound exploration of Welsh identity, the stark reality of rural existence, and the complexities of personal faith within a modernising world. His verse, characterised by precise imagery and a tonal austerity, scrutinises the relationship between humanity and an absent or silent God, making his work essential for understanding post-war British poetry and theological inquiry.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire is a landmark of 20th-century American drama, chronicling the psychological unravelling of Blanche DuBois as she collides with the visceral world of Stanley Kowalski. The play explores the brutal conflict of outdated romanticism with modern pragmatism, employing lyrical dialogue and innovative 'plastic theatre' techniques. It remains a rich text for A-Level study due to its complex characterisation, symbolic depth, and enduring relevance to discussions of gender, class, and mental health.

Philip Larkin Selected Poems

This unit explores Philip Larkin's selected poems, focusing on his distinctive poetic voice and the ways in which his work captures the disillusionments and complexities of post-war English life. Students will examine Larkin's treatment of themes such as mortality, isolation, and the passage of time, while analysing his mastery of language, form, and irony to convey a sense of profound ordinariness and emotional depth.

How Green Was My Valley

This subtopic examines Richard Llewellyn's 'How Green Was My Valley', a poignant narrative of a Welsh mining family's decline set against the industrialisation of the South Wales valleys. Students explore the novel's interplay of memory, nostalgia, and social change, analysing how Llewellyn crafts a powerful elegy for a lost way of life. The study focuses on narrative structure, characterisation, and thematic depth, linking literary techniques to contextual factors such as class, community, and the impact of modernity.

Hamlet

This element delves into Shakespeare's Hamlet, a tragedy exploring the complex psychological, moral, and political dimensions of the protagonist's quest for revenge. Students develop skills in close textual analysis, engagement with critical perspectives, and understanding of the play's literary, historical, and dramatic contexts, preparing them for sophisticated literary interpretation.

Gillian Clarke Selected Poems

This subtopic focuses on the critical analysis and appreciation of Gillian Clarke's selected poems, exploring their thematic richness, stylistic features, and cultural contexts. Students will examine how Clarke's work engages with Welsh identity, landscape, history, and domestic life, while also addressing wider human concerns such as war, environmental degradation, and memory. The study aims to develop skills in close reading, comparative analysis, and contextual understanding, preparing learners for sophisticated literary interpretation at A-Level.

King Lear

This subtopic involves an in-depth study of Shakespeare's 'King Lear', focusing on its intricate tragic structure, profound characterisation, and rich thematic complexity. Students will develop advanced critical analysis skills by examining the interplay of language, imagery, and dramatic conventions, while engaging with diverse critical interpretations and contextual factors that shape the play's enduring resonance.