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As and a level english literature - h072, h472.

If you are delivering this qualification, go to Teach Cambridge for complete planning, teaching and assessment support materials.

Our A Level English Literature qualification encourages students to develop their interest in and enjoyment of a broad range of English literature. They apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation to engage critically and creatively with both set texts and others of their own choosing.

Specification code: H472 Qualification number: 601/4725/8 This qualification is available in English only

Our AS Level English Literature qualification encourages students to develop their interest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies. They apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of set texts.

Specification code: H072 Qualification number: 601/4726/x This qualification is available in English only

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A-Level English Literature Guide

In A-Level by Think Student Editor October 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

A-Level English Literature can be a niche or popular subject – sometimes classes have less than 10 people, sometimes classes are full. Whether you’ve picked it for A-Level or are sitting on the fence, it can be one of the hardest subjects to get right. Think you need some help? This guide is here to help answer all your questions.

In this guide I’ll be discussing whether you should take A-Level English Literature, what the course involves and what the benefits are to taking it. Keep reading to find out more!

Table of Contents

Should you take A-Level English Literature?

Personally, I feel that A-Level English Literature is one of the most creative A-Level subjects. If you enjoyed English Literature GCSE, the chances are you’ll also enjoy English Literature A-Level.

I’d only recommended taking English Literature A-Level if you are strongly passionate about it. The workload can be intense, so if you don’t enjoy the subject, you probably won’t enjoy the A-Level course.

Most schools will hold events for future sixth form students to learn more about each subject. From these you find out more about the course the school offers, or you can ask your teachers.

Alternatively, exam board websites usually post their specifications. For example, you can find the OCR specification here .

If you know what you want to pursue beyond A-Levels, you should also consider whether English Literature A-Level is necessary for future careers. This Think Student article has information on the most respected A-Level subjects.

Alternatively, read this Think Student article if you want to read more about A-Level combinations favoured by universities.

However, if you really want to take English Literature, you should choose what you’re interested in — it will make A-Levels in general more enjoyable.

Ultimately, whether you take English Literature A-Level or not is up to you. If you have a passion for the subject or think it could help you in the future, you should definitely consider choosing it.

How hard is A-Level English Literature?

Any A-Level English Literature student will tell you that it’s not an easy A-Level . In fact, this Think Student article has a list of the top 10 hardest A-Levels to take.

However, you shouldn’t let difficulty put you off. If you achieved the GCSE grades required to take the A-Level, you’re good enough to take the subject.

I would say that A-Level English Literature is moderately difficult. What many students, including myself, like about English is that there is technically no “wrong” answer. However, this also means your knowledge has to be on-point .

Still, don’t let difficulty get you down. Your school wouldn’t let you take A-Level English Literature if they thought you couldn’t handle it. Difficulty is also subjective; what other students find hard, you may find easy.

However , if you are a few weeks into the course and you decide it isn’t for you, there will still be time to switch subjects . If you have any concerns, this Think Student article offers advice on how to know if a course is right for you.

Now that we’ve established whether A-Level English Literature is right for you, let’s look at what the A-Level actually involves.

What do you do in A-Level English Literature?

The A-Level English Literature course is different depending on which exam board your sixth form uses. Even so, most of the courses have similar structures or modules.

As I mentioned earlier, if you enjoyed your GCSE English course, you’ll probably like the A-Level course too. Keep reading to find out more about the general structure of A-Level English Literature.

Exam boards provide a list of “set texts”. This means that your school has to choose a text to study from that specific list.

Exactly which texts are chosen is entirely up to your school. Meaning that you might study a different text to someone doing the same course.

What kind of work does A-Level English Literature involve?

The literature you study will cover poetry, prose and drama, and each exam board requires an NEA (non-exam assessment) project as part of the A-Level . Across the course, you’ll be analysing texts in response to questions on specific themes, ideas, characters or events.

The kinds of questions you get can vary . Sometimes, they’ll be a statement which you’ll be asked to agree or disagree with.

As well as this, you’ll be asked open-ended questions like discussing the presentation of a particular feature. This is one of the best things about A-Level English Literature: your opinion matters!

You’ll also have a lot of new and more complex terminology to learn, to help you analyse texts. This can definitely seem daunting when you first start. Although, if English is your favourite subject, then like me, you’ll learn to love it pretty quickly!

Does A-Level English Literature involve a lot of work?

I don’t think I need to tell you that A-Level English Literature is a very essay-based subject. However, this also means that you will have lots of writing to do and you will probably get set essays regularly . Your teachers may even set you an essay every week or two.

Due to this, for English literature, the jump from GCSE to A-Level is pretty noticeable. Especially as you will generally have quite a lot of work to do. If you’re worried that you aren’t prepared enough for it, this Think Student article has tips you’ll find useful.

Like I said earlier, exactly what you do, including how much work, depends on which exam board your school has chosen. Read further to find out more about the different exam boards, and what they offer as part of A-Level English Literature.

What are the exam boards for A-Level English Literature?

All 4 English exam boards – AQA, OCR, Edexcel and Eduqas – offer A-Level English Literature as a subject. Earlier in the guide , I mentioned that each exam board offers different texts and modules.

While your specific texts will depend on your sixth form, the modules are the same for everyone under the exam board. Continue reading for more information.

What is AQA A-Level English Literature like?

AQA, unlike the other exam boards, actually offers 2 different specifications: A and B .

In specification A, there are 3 compulsory modules. These are “Love through the ages”, “Texts in shared contexts”, and “Independent critical study: Texts across time”.

In specification B, there are also 3 compulsory modules. These are “Literary genres”, “Texts and genres”, and “Theory and independence”.

The texts that are part of specification A include one Shakespeare play, one pre-1900 poetry anthology and one pre-1900 prose text in one module. As well as 3 texts (one prose, one poetry and one drama) with at least one text written post-2000 in another module.

The texts that are part of specification B include one Shakespeare play and two pre-1900 texts in one module. As well as one post-2000 prose, one poetry, and one pre-1900 text in another module. As you can see, both specifications feature similar content but divide them differently .

However, this guide can only offer you a brief overview of the A-Level course. You can find the specifications for AQA A-Level English Literature here (specification A) and here (specification B).

What is OCR A-Level English Literature like?

The OCR A-Level English Literature specification is divided into 3 sections. These are “Drama and poetry pre-1900”, “Comparative and contextual study”, and “Literature post-1900”.

The latter section is a coursework module. Some exam boards require coursework as part of A-Level English Literature, but some don’t.

In the first section, you’ll study one Shakespeare play, one pre-1900 drama and one pre-1900 poetry text. In the second section, you’ll choose one theme (from a list provided by the exam board) and two texts, with at least one text from the list provided by OCR.

The third section is a coursework module, which means you don’t sit an exam for it. Instead , you produce an essay over the course which determines a percentage of your final grade . You can find the full OCR A-Level English Literature specification here .

What is Edexcel A-Level English Literature like?

Pearson Edexcel offers 4 components as part of A-Level English Literature. These are “Drama”, “Prose”, “Poetry”, and a coursework module.

As with the components and modules of other exam boards, each module has its own exam (except for coursework). For Edexcel, the “Drama” and “Poetry” exams are 2 hours 15 minutes, and the “Prose” exam is 1 hour 15 minutes .

In “Drama”, students study one Shakespeare play and critical essays related to the play, and one other drama. In “Prose”, students study two prose texts with one text written pre-1900.

In “Poetry”, students study an anthology and a range of poetry from either a specific poet or specific period. The Pearson Edexcel specification is linked here .

What is Eduqas A-Level English Literature like?

The Eduqas English Literature A-Level specification also has 4 components. These are “Poetry”, “Drama”, “Unseen Texts”, and “Prose Study”.

The “Prose Study” component is a coursework module. All 3 Eduqas A-Level English Literature exams are 2 hours long.

In total, you’ll study two selections of poetry (pre-1900 and post-1900), a Shakespeare play, two non-Shakespeare plays (pre-1900 and post-1900), and two prose texts.

Unlike the other exam boards, Eduqas dedicates a whole module to unseen texts , so you can’t directly revise for that. If you want to read the complete specification, you can do so here .

How to do well in A-Level English Literature

Every student knows there’s no set way to do well. There are way too many changing factors to offer you a fool-proof guide to success!

However , there are definitely techniques and processes to help you secure those top grades . Continue reading for my personal advice on how to succeed in A-Level English Literature.

The best advice I received while studying A-Level English Literature is to include your work in your everyday life. This could be as simple as telling your friend about a character you liked. Alternatively, you could use a key quote in a conversation.

These things both count as revision, because it helps you remember important information. For more revision techniques, see this Think Student article.

in A-Level English Literature is to take advantage of peer review . You’ll definitely make mistakes in your work, no one is perfect!

Asking a partner, friend, or family member to read your essay is a great way to pick up on things you miss. This Think Student article has some useful advice for English literature essay writing!

How to write an English literature essay for A-Level?

Sometimes, the exam system can make it feel like you don’t have much self-expression. I know I’ve certainly felt that way.

One of the great things about essays, and English literature, is that you get to voice your own opinion in your own way . I’ll take you through some general tips on what makes a good essay.

The most important thing is to perfect your spelling and grammar as much as possible. One thing I was always told in school was that if your essay is coherent, you’re halfway to a good essay. Obviously, this is harder if English isn’t your first language, but practice makes perfect!

On top of spelling and grammar, you should make your argument as clear as possible. Teachers will often refer to this as “signposting”.

It lets examiners know exactly what you’re going to talk about. It’s also useful if you run out of time, as examiners can see what you were planning to talk about; it shows you had good ideas, you were just limited by time. For tips on how to structure an English essay, check out this Think Student article.

A third, more obvious tip is to keep your assessment objects in mind as much as possible . In your essays, it’s good to mentally check off what criteria you’ve followed. This way you can keep track of the marks you’ve achieved, and the ones you still need.

What can you do with an English literature A-Level?

Being a student who took A-Level English Literature myself, one of my biggest concerns was the pathways available to me afterwards .

English is often talked about as a subject with limited options – but don’t worry! A-Level English Literature is useful for degrees in fields like English, History, Law, Politics, Philosophy and more.

It might surprise you, but English is a subject that a lot of universities and employers like . You don’t have to want to be a writer to find English A-Level useful.

The writing skills you gain are desirable to universities and employers in a range of fields . However, if you’re still uncertain, I’d recommend researching what A-Levels you need to pursue your future degree/job.

For example, if you want to be a vet , midwife , counsellor , nurse , social worker , police officer , pilot or account , you can click on their respective links to see what A-Levels you will need.

Don’t let how useful A-Level English Literature is stop you from taking it if you really want to! The most important thing about A-Levels is that you choose the subjects you like.

From personal experience, I can tell you that if you don’t care about the subject, you won’t enjoy the A-Level. If you think A-Level English Literature is right for you, choose it!

Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge international as & a level english - literature (9695).

• Syllabus overview

Learners following the Cambridge International AS and A Level English syllabus will study a range of texts in the three main forms: prose, poetry and drama. Set texts are offered from a wide range of different periods and cultures.

Learners will develop skills of reading and analysis of texts, and are encouraged to undertake wider reading to aid understanding of the texts studied. They will learn skills of effective and appropriate communication including the ability to discuss the critical context of texts.

Changes have been made to this syllabus for examination from 2021 onwards. Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus for detailed information.

The syllabus year refers to the year in which the examination will be taken.

• -->2021 - 2023 Syllabus update (PDF, 179KB)
• -->2024 - 2026 Syllabus (PDF, 523KB)

Syllabus support

• -->2023 - 2026 Grade Description A Level (PDF, 156KB)
• -->2023 - 2026 Grade Description AS Level (PDF, 149KB)
• -->Support for Literature in English (PDF, 3MB)

Syllabus updates

We worked with teachers, subject expert panels and universities around the world to update our Cambridge International AS & A Level English subject group as part of our on-going review process. Following the review, we have made some changes to Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Many teachers told us that they offer more than one English subject from this group, so we have made some changes so that the syllabuses work together regardless of whether a student is studying one or more subject from this group. To make it clearer for teachers, we have separated this syllabus (Cambridge International AS and A Level English – Literature 9695) from our other Cambridge International AS & A Level English syllabuses.

How has the syllabus changed?

Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English is available for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

• We have updated the aims in the syllabus, but the emphasis remains the same - to encourage learners to enjoy reading a wide range of international texts and to develop their skills in Literature.
• Interpretation.
• We have updated the list of set texts in the 'Subject content' section of the syllabus.
• A list of command words has been added to the syllabus to help teaching and learning and exam preparation.

How has the assessment changed?

• We have removed optional routes through the syllabus. There are now compulsory examination components: Paper 1 and Paper 2 at AS Level, with the addition of Paper 3 and Paper 4 at A Level.
• Paper 2: The assessment of an Unseen text has been introduced to the AS level and this provides good progression from Cambridge IGCSE.
• Coursework has been removed from the syllabus. All components are now externally assessed.
• All learners will study all three forms: poetry, prose and drama at both AS and A Level. This allows students to gain a good knowledge and understanding of Literature in all forms.
• The question paper structure has changed, as have the paper titles due to the changes made to the assessment model. However, the style of questions and presentation of the questions remains consistent with the current syllabus.
• The rubrics in all of the question papers have changed. Please see the specimen papers for further information.
• The levels-based marking criteria have been updated to maintain validity and reliability of assessment.

When do these changes take place?

The updated syllabus is for examination in June and November 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is also available in March 2021, 2022 and 2023 (India only). Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus above for full details.

Coming soon

We are developing a wide range of support to help you plan and teach the 2021-2023 syllabus.

Look out for a comprehensive range of materials to help you teach the updated syllabus including a scheme of work, Example candidate responses, Learner and Teacher Guides as well as specimen paper answers. These resources will be available from April 2019 onwards (before first teaching) through our School Support Hub .

Endorsed resources

Introduce key concepts and skills for advanced level literary study and focus on developing effective writing from the start. Give students a toolkit for responding to unseen texts and exploring the set texts in depth.

Read more on the Collins website

Through exploring wide ranging texts, students will find they are building essential skills – such as the ability to write clearly and effectively, construct an argument, manage information and analyse complex pieces.

Read more on the Cambridge University Press website

Important notices

We are withdrawing Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English (9695) from the March exam series. The last March series for this syllabus will be March 2026. 

From 2027, we will only offer this syllabus in the June and November exam series.

We communicated this change to schools in September 2022.

Find out more about our range of English syllabuses to suit every level and ambition.

For some subjects, we publish grade descriptions to help understand the level of performance candidates’ grades represent.

We paused the publication of grade descriptions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary changes to the awarding standard in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

As the awarding standard has now returned to the pre-pandemic standard, we are working to produce up-to-date grade descriptions for most of our general qualifications. These will be based on the awarding standards in place from June 2023 onwards.

School Support Hub

Teachers at registered Cambridge schools can unlock over 30 000 teaching and learning resources to help plan and deliver Cambridge programmes and qualifications, including Schemes of work, Example candidate responses, Past papers, Specimen paper answers, as well as digital and multimedia resources.

Schemes of work

Example responses, past papers, specimen paper answers.

Register your interest in becoming a Cambridge School

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Sign up for updates about changes to the syllabuses you teach

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• Published resources

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AS and A-level English Literature A

• Specification
• Planning resources
• Teaching resources
• Assessment resources
• Introduction
• Specification at a glance
• 3.1 Love through the ages
• 4.1 Love through the ages
• 4.2 Texts in shared contexts
• 4.3 Independent critical study: texts across time

Scheme of assessment

• Non-exam assessment administration (A-level only)
• General administration

Find past papers and mark schemes, and specimen papers for new courses, on our website at aqa.org.uk/pastpapers

The AS specification is designed to be taken over one or two years with all assessments taken at the end of the course. The A-level specification is designed to be taken over two years with all assessments taken at the end of the course.

Assessments and certification for the AS specification are available for the first time in May/June 2016 and then every May/June for the life of the specification.

Assessments and certification for the A-level specification are available for the first time in May/June 2017 and then every May/June for the life of the specification.

These are linear qualifications. In order to achieve the award, students must complete all exams in May/June in a single year. All assessments must be taken in the same series.

Our AS and A-level exams in English include questions that allow students to demonstrate their ability to:

• draw together their knowledge, skills and understanding from across the full course of study
• provide extended responses.

All AS and A-level components offer only extended response questions.

All materials are available in English only.

Courses based on these specifications must encourage students 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
• explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them.

In addition, A-level specifications must encourage students to develop their interest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies as they undertake independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of English literature, including its changing traditions.

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all AS and A-level English Literature specifications and all exam boards.

The exams and non-exam assessment will measure to what extent students have achieved the following AOs:

• AO1: Articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and coherent, accurate written expression.
• AO2: Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts.
• AO3: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received.
• AO4: Explore connections across literary texts.
• AO5: Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations.

Weighting of assessment objectives for AS English Literature A

The specification reflects the belief that the assessment objectives (AOs) work best together, producing a rounded and holistic view of English literature. Students will need to show coverage of all AOs in all tasks. To be specific:

AO1 essentially requires informed and relevant responses which are accurately written and use appropriate concepts and terminology.

AO2 requires students to analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts, with particular focus on the structures of texts as a form of shaping.

AO3 relates to the many possible contexts which arise out of the text, the specific task and the period being studied.

This specification treats AOs 1, 2 and 3 as broadly equal, given their relative weightings: AO1 has a weighting of 28% whilst AOs 2 and 3 both have a weighting of 24%.

AO4 involves connections across texts and sees possible meanings and interpretations arising not only out of the contexts of the text itself (AO3 above) but also out of the wider and broader contexts which comes from the study of period. Thus even when an individual text is being investigated it should still be seen as being framed by a wider network of texts and contexts to which it connects.

AO5 completes the picture by acknowledging that if work in AOs 2, 3 and 4 had been included in the response to the question then debate and interpretations will arise out of this work showing that the interpretation of texts is not a fixed process but a dynamic one.

AOs 4 and 5 each have a weighting of 12% in all questions.

Weighting of assessment objectives for A-level English Literature A

This specification reflects the belief that the assessment objectives (AOs) work best together, producing a rounded and holistic view of English literature. Students will need to show coverage of all AOs in all tasks. To be specific:

AO5 completes the picture by acknowledging that if work in AOs 2, 3 and 4 had been included in the response to the question then debate and interpretations will arise out of this work showing that the interpretation of texts is not a fixed process but a dynamic one. In non-exam assessment only, discussion of different interpretations must include, on at least one text, consideration of different interpretations of the text(s) over time.

Assessment weightings

The marks awarded on the papers will be scaled to meet the weighting of the components. Students' final marks will be calculated by adding together the scaled marks for each component. Grade boundaries will be set using this total scaled mark. The scaling and total scaled marks are shown in the table below.

Non-exam assessment marking criteria

Weightings for each question are as follows:

AO1: 7 marks; AO2: 6 marks; AO3: 6 marks; AO4: 3 marks; AO5: 3 marks

Poetry Anthologies from Educational Syllabuses

Edexcel a level (9et0) english literature.

Get More from Every Poem

Exclusive content and features, PDF Poem Guides, PDF Resources, Engage with Poetry Experts, and more.

For those who are studying English Literature at A level on the Pearson Edexcel board of examiners, here is a list of the required poems analyzed. This includes all the selected poems, mentioned in the Edexcel specification for the syllabus .

Please feel free to skip to the poem most relevant to you. If you want a poem to be analyzed that you cannot find on the site too, please feel free to contact us .

Post-2000 Specified Poetry

• Eat Me by Patience Agbabi [ PDF Guide ]
• Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass by Simon Armitage [ PDF Guide ]
• Material by Ros Barber [ PDF Guide ]
• History by John Burnside [ PDF Guide ]
• An Easy Passage by Julia Copus [ PDF Guide ]
• The Deliverer by Tishani Doshi [ PDF Guide ]
• The Lammas Hireling by Ian Duhig [ PDF Guide ]
• To My Nine-Year-Old Self by Helen Dunmore [ PDF Guide ]
• A Minor Role by U.A. Fanthorpe [ PDF Guide ]
• The Gun by Vicki Feaver [ PDF Guide ]
• The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled by Leontia Flynn [ PDF Guide ]
• Giuseppe by Roderick Ford [ PDF Guide ]
• Out of the Bag by Seamus Heaney [ PDF Guide ]
• Effects by Alan Jenkins [ PDF Guide ]
• Genetics by Sinéad Morrissey [ PDF Guide ]
• From the Journal of a Disappointed Man by Andrew Motion [ PDF Guide ]
• Look We Have Coming to Dover! by Daljit Nagra [ PDF Guide ]
• Please Hold by Ciaran O’Driscoll [ PDF Guide ]
• On Her Blindness by Adam Thorpe [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn by Tim Turnbull [ PDF Guide ]

Pre-1900 – The Medieval Period

• Noah’s Flood (Chester) Anon 33 by Amal Dunqul [ PDF Guide ]
• The Second Shepherds’ Pageant (Wakefield)
• The Crucifixion (York)
• Noah (Chester) Anon
• The Second Shepherds’ Play
• The Crucifixion
• The Wife of Bath’s Prologue by Geoffrey Chaucer
• The Wife of Bath’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer

Note for a prescribed list of poems for medieval poetry:

• Noah’s Flood/Noah is counted as the equivalent of seven poems
• The Second Shepherds’ Pageant/Play is counted as the equivalent of seventeen poems
• The Crucifixion is counted as the equivalent of six poems.
• The Wife of Bath’s Prologue is counted as the equivalent of twenty poems
• The Wife of Bath’s Tale is counted as the equivalent of ten poems

Pre-1900 – Metaphysical Poetry

John donne [ pdf guide ].

• The Flea [ PDF Guide ]
• The Good Morrow [ PDF Guide ]
• Song (‘Go and catch a falling star’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Woman’s Constancy [ PDF Guide ]
• The Sun Rising [ PDF Guide ]
• A Valediction of Weeping [ PDF Guide ]
• A Nocturnal Upon St Lucy’s Day [ PDF Guide ]
• The Apparition [ PDF Guide ]
• Elegy: To his Mistress Going to Bed [ PDF Guide ]
• At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners [ PDF Guide ]
• Batter My Heart [ PDF Guide ]
• A Hymn to God the Father [ PDF Guide ]
• The Canonization [ PDF Guide ]
• Song (‘Sweetest love I do not go’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Air and Angels [ PDF Guide ]
• The Anniversary [ PDF Guide ]
• Twickenham Garden [ PDF Guide ]
• Love’s Growth [ PDF Guide ]
• Love’s Alchemy [ PDF Guide ]
• A Valediction Forbidding Mourning [ PDF Guide ]
• The Ecstasy [ PDF Guide ]
• The Funeral [ PDF Guide ]
• The Relic [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet I (‘Thou hast made me’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet V (‘I am a little world’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet VI (‘This is my play’s last scene’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet VII (‘At the round earth’s imagined corners’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet X (‘Death be not proud’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet XI (‘Spit in my face, you Jews’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Holy Sonnet XIV (‘Batter my heart’) [ PDF Guide ]
• Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward [ PDF Guide ]
• Hymn to God my God, in My Sickness [ PDF Guide ]

George Herbert

• Redemption [ PDF Guide ]
• The Collar [ PDF Guide ]
• The Pulley [ PDF Guide ]
• Love III [ PDF Guide ]

Thomas Carew

• To My Mistress Sitting by a River’s Side: An Eddy [ PDF Guide ]
• To a Lady that Desired I Would Love Her [ PDF Guide ]
• A Song (‘Ask me no more where Jove bestows’) [ PDF Guide ]

Anne Bradstreet

• A Letter to her Husband, Absent upon Public Engagement [ PDF Guide ]

Richard Lovelace

• Song: To Lucasta, Going to the Wars [ PDF Guide ]

Andrew Marvell

• The Nymph Complaining for the Death of her Fawn [ PDF Guide ]
• To His Coy Mistress [ PDF Guide ]
• The Definition of Love [ PDF Guide ]

Henry Vaughan

• Unprofitableness [ PDF Guide ]
• The World [ PDF Guide ]

Katherine Philips

• To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship [ PDF Guide ]
• A Dialogue of Friendship Multiplied [ PDF Guide ]
• Orinda to Lucasia [ PDF Guide ]

Pre-1900 – The Romantic Period

William blake [ pdf guide ].

• Holy Thursday [ PDF Guide ]
• The Sick Rose [ PDF Guide ]
• The Tyger [ PDF Guide ]
• London [ PDF Guide ]

William Wordsworth [ PDF Guide ]

• Lines Written in Early Spring [ PDF Guide ]
• Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode: Intimations of Immortality [ PDF Guide ]

Lord Byron [ PDF Guide ]

• Lines Inscribed upon a Cup Formed from a Skull [ PDF Guide ]
• So We’ll Go no more A Roving [ PDF Guide ]
• On This Day I Complete My Thirty-Sixth Year [ PDF Guide ]

Percy Bysshe Shelley [ PDF Guide ]

• The cold earth slept below [ PDF Guide ]
• Stanzas Written in Dejection, near Naples [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode to the West Wind [ PDF Guide ]
• The Question [ PDF Guide ]

John Keats [ PDF Guide ]

• Sonnet: On the Sea [ PDF Guide ]
• O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell [ PDF Guide ]
• On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer [ PDF Guide ]
• In drear-nighted December [ PDF Guide ]
• On Sitting Down to Read King Lear Once Again [ PDF Guide ]
• When I have fears that I may cease to be [ PDF Guide ]
• To Sleep [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode to Psyche [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode on a Grecian Urn [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode to a Nightingale [ PDF Guide ]
• Ode on Melancholy [ PDF Guide ]
• Bright Star! would I were steadfast as thou art [ PDF Guide ]
• To Autumn [ PDF Guide ]
• The Eve of St Agnes [ PDF Guide ]

Pre-1900 – The Victorian Period

Alfred tennyson [ pdf guide ].

• From In Memoriam: VII ‘Dark house, by which once more I stand’ [ PDF Guide ]
• From In Memoriam: XCV ‘By night we linger’d on the lawn’ [ PDF Guide ]
• From Maud: I.xi ‘O let the solid ground’ [ PDF Guide ]
• From Maud: I.xviii ‘I have led her home, my love, my only friend’ [ PDF Guide ]
• From Maud: I.xxii ‘Come into the garden, Maud’ [ PDF Guide ]
• From Maud: II.iv ‘O that ’twere possible’ [ PDF Guide ]

Emily Brontë [ PDF Guide ]

• The Visionary [ PDF Guide ]

Elizabeth Barrett Browning [ PDF Guide ]

• Grief [ PDF Guide ]
• From Sonnets from the Portuguese XXIV ‘Let the world’s sharpness, like a closing knife’ [ PDF Guide ]
• The Best Thing in the World [ PDF Guide ]

Robert Browning [ PDF Guide ]

• ‘Died…’ [ PDF Guide ]
• My Last Duchess [ PDF Guide ]
• Home-Thoughts, from Abroad [ PDF Guide ]
• Meeting at Night [ PDF Guide ]
• Love in a Life [ PDF Guide ]

Charlotte Brontë

• The Autumn day its course has run–the Autumn evening falls’ [ PDF Guide ]
• The house was still–the room was still [ PDF Guide ]
• ‘I now had only to retrace’ [ PDF Guide ]
• ‘The Nurse believed the sick man slept’ [ PDF Guide ]
• Stanzas – [‘Often rebuked, yet always back returning’] (perhaps by Emily Brontë) [ PDF Guide ]

Christina Rossetti [ PDF Guide ]

• Remember [ PDF Guide ]
• Echo [ PDF Guide ]
• May [ PDF Guide ]
• A Birthday [ PDF Guide ]
• Somewhere or Other (still analyzing)
• Some ladies dress in muslin full and white [ PDF Guide ]
• An Apple-Gathering [ PDF Guide ]
• Maude Clare [ PDF Guide ]
• At Home [ PDF Guide ]
• Up-Hill [ PDF Guide ]
• Goblin Market [ PDF Guide ]
• What Would I Give? [ PDF Guide ]
• Twice [ PDF Guide ]
• Memory [ PDF Guide ]
• A Christmas Carol (still analyzing)
• Passing and Glassing [ PDF Guide ]
• Piteous my rhyme is [ PDF Guide ]
• A Helpmeet for Him [ PDF Guide ]
• As froth on the face of the deep [ PDF Guide ]
• Our Mothers, lovely women pitiful [ PDF Guide ]
• Babylon the Great [ PDF Guide ]

Thomas Hardy [ PDF Guide ]

• At an Inn [ PDF Guide ]
• I Look into My Glass [ PDF Guide ]
• Drummer Hodge [ PDF Guide ]
• A Wife in London [ PDF Guide ]
• The Darkling Thrush [ PDF Guide ]

Post-1900 – The Modernist Period

Robert frost [ pdf guide ].

• The Runaway [ PDF Guide ]
• Mending Wall [ PDF Guide ]
• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening [ PDF Guide ]
• Mowing [ PDF Guide ]
• The Road Not Taken [ PDF Guide ]
• Out, Out [ PDF Guide ]

William Carlos Williams

• The Red Wheelbarrow [ PDF Guide ]
• This is just to say [ PDF Guide ]
• Landscape with the Fall of Icarus [ PDF Guide ]
• The Hunters in the Snow [ PDF Guide ]
• The Great Figure [ PDF Guide ]

D.H. Lawrence

• Snake [ PDF Guide ]

Marianne Moore

• To a Snail [ PDF Guide ]
• What Are Years? [ PDF Guide ]

Edna St. Vincent Millay

• Time does not bring relief; you all have lied… [ PDF Guide ]
• Recuerdo [ PDF Guide ]
• Wild Swans [ PDF Guide ]
• The Fawn [ PDF Guide ]

E.E. Cummings

• in Just [ PDF Guide ]
• what if a much of a which of a wind [ PDF Guide ]
• pity this busy monster, manunkind [ PDF Guide ]

W.H. Auden [ PDF Guide ]

• Funeral Blues (Stop all the Clocks) [ PDF Guide ]
• Lullaby [ PDF Guide ]
• Musée des Beaux Arts [ PDF Guide ]
• The Shield of Achilles [ PDF Guide ]

T.S. Eliot [ PDF Guide ]

• La Figlia Che Piange [ PDF Guide ]
• The Love Song of by J. Alfred Prufrock [ PDF Guide ]
• Portrait of a Lady [ PDF Guide ]
• Preludes [ PDF Guide ]
• Rhapsody on a Windy Night [ PDF Guide ]
• Gerontion [ PDF Guide ]
• Sweeney Erect [ PDF Guide ]
• Whispers of Immortality [ PDF Guide ]
• I. The Burial of the Dead
• II. A Game of Chess
• III. The Fire Sermon
• IV. Death by Water
• V. What the Thunder said
• The Hollow Men [ PDF Guide ]
• Ash-Wednesday [ PDF Guide ]
• Ariel Poems: Journey of the Magi (1927) [ PDF Guide ]

Post-1900 – The Movement

Thomas blackburn.

• Hospital for Defectives [ PDF Guide ]
• Felo De Se [ PDF Guide ]
• Horror Comic Robert Conquest (still analyzing)
• Man and Woman (still analyzing)
• Apology for Understatement [ PDF Guide ]
• Au Jardin des Plantes [ PDF Guide ]
• A Song about Major Eatherly (still analyzing)
• Brooklyn Heights [ PDF Guide ]

Elizabeth Jennings

• Delay [ PDF Guide ]
• Song at the Beginning of Autumn [ PDF Guide ]
• Answers [ PDF Guide ]
• The Young Ones [ PDF Guide ]
• One Flesh [ PDF Guide ]

Molly Holden

• Photograph of Haymaker, 1890 [ PDF Guide ]
• [ PDF Guide ]
• Giant Decorative Dahlias [ PDF Guide ]

Peter Porter

• Metamorphosis [ PDF Guide ]
• London is full of chickens on electric spit (still analyzing)
• Your Attention Please [ PDF Guide ]

Jenny Joseph

• Warning [ PDF Guide ]

George Macbeth

• The Miner’s Helmet [ PDF Guide ]
• The Wasps’ Nest (still analyzing)
• When I am Dead (still analyzing)

Rosemary Tonks

• Story of a Hotel Room [ PDF Guide ]
• Farewell to Kurdistan [ PDF Guide ]

Philip Larkin [ PDF Guide ]

• Toads [ PDF Guide ]
• Coming [ PDF Guide ]
• At Grass [ PDF Guide ]
• Take One Home for the Kiddies [ PDF Guide ]
• Nothing to be Said [ PDF Guide ]
• The Whitsun Weddings [ PDF Guide ]
• Lines On A Young Lady’s Photograph Album [ PDF Guide ]
• Wedding-Wind [ PDF Guide ]
• Places, Loved Ones [ PDF Guide ]
• Reasons for Attendance [ PDF Guide ]
• Dry-Point [ PDF Guide ]
• Next, Please [ PDF Guide ]
• Going [ PDF Guide ]
• Wants [ PDF Guide ]
• Maiden Name [ PDF Guide ]
• Born Yesterday [ PDF Guide ]
• Whatever Happened? [ PDF Guide ]
• No Road [ PDF Guide ]
• Wires [ PDF Guide ]
• Church Going [ PDF Guide ]
• Age [ PDF Guide ]
• Myxomatosis [ PDF Guide ]
• Poetry Of Departures [ PDF Guide ]
• Triple Time [ PDF Guide ]
• Spring [ PDF Guide ]
• Deceptions [ PDF Guide ]
• I Remember, I Remember [ PDF Guide ]
• Absences [ PDF Guide ]
• Latest Face (still analyzing)
• If, My Darling [ PDF Guide ]
• Skin [ PDF Guide ]
• Arrivals, Departures [ PDF Guide ]

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Home » Poetry Anthologies from Educational Syllabuses » Edexcel A Level (9ET0) English Literature

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AQA A Level English Literature

Tools to help you ace your exams, including: past papers, revision notes, and exam-style questions (organised by topic)

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English literature a level.

Do you have a passion for reading? Broaden your knowledge and understanding of some of the major literary works from the 17th century to the present day by studying A level English Literature online.

Ever wondered how to analyse the impact of social media on language? Our A level English Language course equips you with essential skills in linguistic analysis, text production, and understanding language evolution. Learn to write persuasively, interpret diverse forms of communication, and develop critical thinking abilities.

Prepare for further studies or careers in journalism, marketing, or education, and excel in the art of effective communication.

Studying A level English Literature through the National Extension College (NEC) provides an enriching examination of literary works, suitable for both beginners and those with prior experience. This online A level English Literature course includes a wide array of topics, from classic novels, poetry, and drama to advanced analysis of themes, contexts, and critical theories. The distance learning A level English Literature curriculum is designed to inspire interest and deepen understanding through analytical essays and interpretative tasks.

It also lays a solid groundwork for further studies in literature, creative writing, or humanities, and prepares students for careers in teaching, writing, publishing, and cultural management.

Multi-buy A levels:

Purchasing more than one A level? Use voucher code ALMB10 to receive 10% off at checkout.

Why study English Literature?

If you have real pleasure in reading then English Literature A level will probably be your favourite subject! As a core subject you’ll be able to combine English Literature with any other A level as it complements all areas.

As part of the course you’ll be taught to look critically at a text’s historical and culture period which will enable you to develop an understanding of literature in all its forms – while also enjoying some great works. Our English Literature A level course is ideal if you:

• Enjoy reading and want to study both classic and contemporary work.
• Are keen to study English at degree level, or to combine with the arts or humanities subjects, languages, business or law .
• Would like to gain a deeper understanding of literary theories and concepts.
• Want to boost your independent thinking skills in preparation for higher education.
• Enjoy constructing compelling arguments and debating abstract ideas.
• Would like to build key employability skills, such as written communication, critical and analytical thinking.

Future opportunities

• Studying English courses at university.
• A wide range of rewarding career paths in fields such as communications and marketing, teaching, editorial roles, journalism and media, publishing and writing.

Course content

Section 1 Love through the ages: The Great Gatsby

• Chapter 1: Setting the scene
• Chapter 2: Tom and Myrtle
• Chapter 3: Gatsby’s party
• Chapter 4: Back stories
• Chapter 5: The reunion
• Chapter 6: Another party
• Chapter 7: Turning point

Section 2 Love through the ages: pre-1900 poetry

• Destructive love
• Idealised love
• Lost love 1
• Lost love 2

Section 3 Love through the ages: Othello

• Introduction to Shakespeare studies
• Othello Act I
• Othello Act II
• Othello Act III Part 1
• Othello Act III Part 2
• Othello Act IV
• Othello Act V

Section 4 Love through the ages: unseen poetry

• Unrequited love
• Abandonment
• Mothers and daughters
• Celebration
• Anticipation
• To a husband

Section 5 The non-exam assessment (NEA)

• Overview of the NEA
• Shaping your NEA
• Writing your NEA

Section 6 Modern times: Spies

• Spies chapter 1
• Spies chapter 2
• Spies chapters 3 and 4
• Spies chapters 5 and 6
• Spies chapters 7 and 8
• Spies chapters 9 to 11

Section 7 Modern times: All My Sons

• All my Sons Act I
• All my Sons Act II
• All my Sons Act III

Section 8 Modern times: Skirrid Hill

• Variants of love
• Love and loss
• Love and the land
• Love, war and politics
• Crossing continents

Section 9 Modern times: unseen prose

• The Amateur Marriage
• The Buddha of Suburbia
• Cloud Atlas
• Enduring love
• Mr Phillips
• The Remains of the Day
• The Secret History

Section 10 Revision

• Preparing for the exam
• The Shakespeare question
• The unseen poetry question
• Comparing texts
• The set text question
• The unseen prose question
• Contextual linking

Study A level English Literature with us and benefit from:

• Flexible learning
• Support from a personal tutor by email, phone or Skype
• Any time enrolment
• Our exam booking service
• Assignments with tutor feedback
• Ongoing support from Student Support
• Forums to discuss your course with other students

Choose when and where you access your course, using learn@nec our 24/7 learning platform.

This easy-to-use learning platform includes interactive checkpoints, quizzes and activities to help you evaluate your progress.

You’ll have access to support from a personal tutor. All NEC tutors are subject experts, with experience of supporting online learners.

Meet Kathryn who is just one of our first-class English tutors:

“My academic qualifications include a BA (2:1) honours degree in English Literature and a PGCE in English at Leeds University. I have worked as an AQA examiner for the past 14 years which has provided me with a comprehensive insight into the examination requirements for A level Literature. As well as tutoring, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing the violin and piano and walking and cycling in the Yorkshire Dales.”

What you need to know

• AQA 7712 A (option B)
• Online learning with support from a personal tutor
• Complete at your own pace
• Approx. 250-300* hours plus time for completing assignments

*The specification suggests that 150 hours is needed. You’ll also need time to complete assignments and prepare yourself for exams and some courses like English literature involve a lot of reading. Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say with certainty how long a course will take you, but you should expect to spend longer than 150 hours. Taken across the length of time we recommend, this equates to approximately 4 hours per week. This will increase if you choose to take it over a shorter time frame or may be less if you are retaking a subject and have covered a lot of of the course content.

Assignments

• 11 assignments (one introductory) – these do not contribute towards your final grade
• Set textbooks – included with your course: AQA AS and A level English Literature (A) Anthology: love poetry through the ages, AQA and Cambridge University Press, 2015

Requirements

You will need copies of all the texts listed below. It will be helpful, but not essential, to use the editions listed:

• F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby , Penguin Modern Classics, 2000
• William Shakespeare, Othello , Arden Shakespeare edition, ed. E A J Honigmann, 2001
• Michael Frayn, Spies , Faber & Faber, 2011
• Arthur Miller, All My Sons , Penguin Modern Classics, 2009
• Owen Sheers, Skirrid Hill , Seren, 2005

You will also need:

• Internet access
• Computer operating system and browser to support learn@nec

What's included?

Our course fees are  clear and transparent  to help you plan for any additional costs.

Your course fee includes:

• 24/7 access to  learn@nec  platform and resources
• Expertly designed online course materials (including ebook versions of textbooks where specified) that you need to complete the course
• Support from our Student Services team
• Structured assignments carefully designed to prepare you for exams
• Guidance from your tutor for up to 24 months from your date of enrolment
• Extensive feedback to all assignments that will support your learning
• NEA (coursework) marking and authentication
• Marking for one examination paper (from a previous year)
• Guaranteed exam place
• NEC’s guide to study skills:  How to Succeed as an Independent Learner
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar guide
• Time planner template to help you plan your study timetable
• Information on how to apply for exams

Your course fee does not cover:

• Any fees in relation to exam entries or assessments
• Centre Assessment Grades (CAG) in the event of exam cancellation
• Recommended textbooks for additional reading or set texts

If you need more support, you can purchase :

• Online tutorials – if you need help with a specific topic you can arrange a 30 minute or 1 hour tutorial
• Additional past paper marking – to help with your exam preparation
• Revision tutorial –  to plan your revision and explore revision techniques
• Help with your UCAS application service

For further information on additional/optional support you can purchase, please visit our  additional services  page.

Related blog posts

The books behind A level English Literature

How do you define poetry?

Exams and assessment

Exams (two):

• 40% of marks  (3 hours)
• 40% of marks  (2 hours 30 minutes)

Non-exam assessment (NEA):

• one coursework task (20% of marks)
• part of the A level assessment for this specification
• NEC has agreed with the awarding body that our own tutors are able to mark your NEA work*
• you can then sit your written exams at one of our partnership exam centres

*You will need to complete at least four NEC assignments before the tutor can start looking at your NEA work. The deadlines for completion of these and other elements of the NEA will be available on learn@nec .

Additional support if you’re under 18

We know that our younger students often need an extra helping hand with their studies. In our experience learning online works best when either a parent or guardian are involved. This is why NEC has developed our unique Progress Tracker to help you to support your child.

NEC’s Progress Tracker will allow you to easily track your child’s progress across their subjects and gain insight to how well they are doing through access to their assignment grades and tutor feedback.  

Read more about how we work with young students who are studying at home or through a school.

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Course fees £699.

It’s your choice: you can pay in full at the point of enrolment, or you can spread the cost over monthly instalments with our finance offer. We offer a choice of six or 12 month repayment plans, with 0% APR as standard.

To pay in instalments you will need to enrol by telephone.

Representative example: Course fee: £699 Deposit: £69.90 Amount of credit: £629.10 Monthly payment: £52.43 Duration of agreement: 12 months Total repayable: £699 Rate of interest: 0% (fixed) 0% APR representative.

The National Extension College (NEC) work with finance company OMNI. For more information on our relationship with OMNI and repayment plans see our Fee Information page .

learn@nec is our virtual learning environment, the gateway to your course and the NEC community. All the resources you need to study are here and you have the flexibility to access them wherever you want, whenever you want

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Study at your own pace.

There are  no academic requirements  for this course.

Course materials are written in English so a  good level of written English  is required.

As part of NEC’s mission to widen participation our team is happy to discuss payment options unavailable online. Please contact our team on 0800 389 2839 or email [email protected]

One of the biggest challenges for independent learners can be where to sit their exams. So when you enrol with NEC you’ll be guaranteed a place at one of our partnership exam centres.

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Course Summary

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AS/A Level English Literature

• Key Documents
• Past Papers / Mark Schemes

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Interested in switching?  Download our free  Guide to switching  for everything you need to know.

Choose Eduqas and you’ll benefit from:

• Clearly structured components for poetry, prose and drama
• Opportunity to study the canon of English Literature as well as contemporary texts
• Knowledge and skills applied across all components
• The same structure for questions on all papers

Need further information?

You can also find out more about our package of support including free teaching and learning resources, direct access to subject-specialists, expert-led CPD, and regional support team on our  'Switch to Us’ pages.

The Eduqas AS & A level in English literature courses encourage learners 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
• 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.

This specification is based on a conviction that the study of literature should encourage enjoyment of literary studies based on an informed personal response to a range of texts.

It provides learners with an introduction to the discipline of advanced literary studies and presents opportunities for reading widely and for making creative and informed responses to each of the major literary genres of poetry, prose and drama.

This specification offers three components in discrete genres of study: poetry, drama and prose to allow learners to focus on the conventions and traditions of each genre in turn. A further component offers unseen prose and poetry to allow learners to focus separately on applying the skills of literary analysis acquired during the course as a whole.

This specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills established at GCSE English Literature .

It introduces learners to the discipline of advanced literary studies and requires reading of the major literary genres of poetry, prose and drama. This specification extends these studies in breadth and depth, further developing learners’ ability to analyse, evaluate and make connections. In so doing, this specification provides a suitable foundation for the study of English literature.

Important information, past papers, marking schemes, entry/amendment uploads & make post-results enquiries.

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A-level English Literature

A-level english literature edexcel online course.

The study of A-level English Literature allows us to explore some of life’s most complex topics: love, loss, loneliness, fear and happiness. In short, through the power of the written word, you’ll take a deep dive into the strengths and frailties of human emotion.

From Shakespeare to Wyatt, to Tennessee Williams and Margaret Atwood, you’ll critically examine a range of texts which sum up ‘Love Through the Ages’. You’ll become confident placing poems and novels into context, identifying historicist links and comparing and contrasting characters, themes and narrative voices.

What you will learn

Unit 1 - drama.

• Taming of the Shrew
• The Importance of Being Earnest

Unit 2 - Prose

The Supernatural

• Pre-1900: Dracula , Bram Stoker. The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde.
• Post-1900: Beloved , Toni Morrison. The Little Stranger , Sarah Waters.

Unit 3 - Poetry

• Post-2000 poetry
• The Canterbury Tales – The Wife of Bath
• Unseen poetry

Awarding Body

Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding organisation offering academic and vocational qualifications in schools, colleges and workplaces in the UK and abroad. Edexcel is a multinational education and examination body covering A-Level Courses and GCSE Courses .

Endorsed by

This course carries UCAS points . This means that it can be used to gain direct access to university courses and other higher education qualifications, through the UCAS system.

Course Outcome

Upon successful completion of this home learning A-level English Literature course, you will receive an A-level in English Literature, issued by Edexcel. This syllabus ( 9ET0 ) has been chosen specifically because it is best suited to distance learning. Your certificate is identical to that issued to students at any other school, college or university.

How is this course assessed or examined?

You will be required to complete the three assessments for A-level English Literature:

Written Exams:

• Component 1: Drama. 30% of A-level
• Component 2: Prose. 20% of A-level.
• Component 3: Poetry. 30% of A-level

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA):

• Coursework Task: 20% of A-level.

Entry requirements

It is strongly recommended that you have studied English Literature to GCSE or equivalent level before starting this course. The syllabus is a difficulty Level Three, equivalent to an A-level or BTEC, and is usually suitable for most learners of all ages

Find out more about the exams .

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Courses Taught by Experts

Health care.

For 10+ years, my passion for helping learners develop and grow has driven my career as a teacher . To help me progress even further, I am currently studying to achieve the IQA award . I love reading and I’m a self-professed Harry Potter fan. Talk to me about all things history, rock music, tattoos and true crime podcasts.  

Counselling and Psychology

I always knew that a career focused around helping people achieve their goals was perfect for me . That’s why I bec a me a tutor . I love to see my student ’s confidence flourish as they progress through their course s . I t’s important to help them fit the ir learning goals around their personal commitment s so they have the best chance of success !  

Early Years

Beginning my career as an early years practitioner inspired me to step into the world of teaching. I have since elevated my skillset through a range of qualifications including L3 in Assessing Vocational Achievement, L 3 in Education & Training and L4 in Internal Quality Assurance. I’m a big kid at heart ; I love Disney movies and also dabble in photography.   

STEM and History of Art

Marine biology, jellyfish conservationist, hairdresser, fitness instructor… I have an eclectic backstory! Art is my passion and one of my proudest moments was achieving my Masters in Fine Art. I then requalified as an Art teacher to share my knowledge with my students. For most of my career, I’ve supported vulnerable students with additional needs such as SEMH and SEN.

Education and Childcare

My 30-year stride in education started with childminding, to working with pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. I then tutored in a national reading programme and went on to become a Higher-Level TA. I’m elated to say I graduated with a First-Class BA Honours Degree when I was 50 – living proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams!

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is a-level english literature similar to a-level english language, is a-level english literature based on william shakespeare, do universities like english literature a-level, is a-level english literature worth it, what is the coursework for english literature a-level, what do you study for english literature at a-levels, what is included in the cost of my course, when do i receive my course materials, when do the courses start, what skills do i need to enrol on a course, does this a-level english lit course have assignments, why study a-level english language online, who should study a-level english literature, how quickly can i complete my course, when does my student support start, how is the course accessed and coursework completed.

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AS and A Level: Carol Ann Duffy

• English Literature
• Carol Ann Duffy

"In Mrs. Tilscher's Class" by Carol Ann Duffy deals with one central theme. The theme of growing up is the main idea within the poem and is repeatedly imprinted throughout the poet's childhood

In Mrs. Tilscher's Class "In Mrs. Tilscher's Class" by Carol Ann Duffy deals with one central theme. The theme of growing up is the main idea within the poem and is repeatedly imprinted throughout the poet's childhood. This theme leads on to the more abstract idea of the child already maturing into a great poet. Her mind's eye is unbounded as she transforms her classroom into a place of riches and resides in her own world of imagination. Written improbably through the 2nd person viewpoint, the poem expresses these ideas personally to the reader, hence allowing us to empathise with the poet. The poet is able to recall several aspects of her primary school days, and is consequently able to paint a picture of her memories from the viewpoint of a young child. The writer not only conveys an inviting warm atmosphere of a 1960's classroom, but also unveils a liberal outlook to her childhood. A colourful classroom with numerous displays is made known to the reader: "The classroom glowed like a sweet shop." The classroom is made into a place of riches with this visual simile, used to radiate wonders of the child's mind. The word "glowed" in this line is a metaphor all on its own. The metaphor allows the reader to visualise the sweetshop gleaming due to the light refracting through the glass jars and translucent sweets. The poet can also bring to mind the teacher's

• Word count: 2352
• Level: AS and A Level
• Subject: English

"A Chinese Sage" is a poem written by Elizabeth Jennings and is part of a collection called Growing-Points, written in 1975.

Poetry Commentary "A Chinese Sage" is a poem written by Elizabeth Jennings and is part of a collection called Growing-Points, written in 1975. It is written in a very unusual form that can be considered as free verse, using various different indentations and alignments for different lines. This is used by the author to put emphasis on the story in the poem. It consists entirely of 23 lines all in one stanza. It could be said that the poem is a mixture between didactic and narrative poetry. The poem reveals two significant characters: A wise Chinese Sage who likes to write poetry, and a dead simple, uneducated female peasant. Both of these individuals differ from each other in every way. The only way in which they can both relate to each other in any way is by adapting to each others level of intelligence on an emotional level. This turning point in the poem is also emphasised by the use of varying alignment and indentations and especially the use of more emotionally tuned words. The Chinese Sage is very peculiarly introduced: The way he writes his poems is described. He is introduced in this way because it displays the main difference between him and the peasant woman. She is unable to relate to any form of art due to her background. Basically, this shows how absolutely incompatible the two of them are. Natural human instincts play a big role in this, since it is the

• Word count: 973

"Captain Corelli's Mandolin"How do the language and classical allusions in this chapter present Dr. Iannis and his way of thinking? In your answer you should: Look closely at the use of language and narrative method

Ioulia Samouilovskaia. 22.09.05. "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" How do the language and classical allusions in this chapter present Dr. Iannis and his way of thinking? In your answer you should: --> Look closely at the use of language and narrative method --> Comment on the place of issues such as Dr. Iannis's level of education and the importance of the past as part of the island's identity. Already from the first chapter the author introduces us to one of the most important characters of the book, Dr. Iannis. There are several factors that help the writer to present him to the readers. The most important ones are language (including the narrative style) and classical allusions. The diction in this chapter is very difficult and contains a lot of medical terminology. This shows us that Dr. Iannis is a very educated man and that probably most of the people on the island respect him due to this superiority. From the phrases that he uses we find out that he likes to impress people, especially if they are his patients. For example in the first chapter instead of telling his patient that the cause of his earache is a pea, he describes it as "an exorbitant auditory impediment"-this helps the doctor to create some mystery around his work and knowledge and therefore makes him a more interesting person in the eyes of Stamatis and his wife.

• Word count: 1065

"Duffy expresses her social criticism by giving voices to characters who reveal their lives as being without purpose."

"Duffy expresses her social criticism by giving voices to characters who reveal their lives as being without purpose." How far do you agree? Carol Ann Duffy presents to the reader through her poetry many views she has on society. Her recent poetry portrays her views on the treatment of females and how in the past they have not been given true status in society. Duffy is a strong feminist and I think that the fact that she was not chosen poet laureate for both her sex and her sexuality has further strengthened her views on the rights females should have and the power they should have relative to men. Her feminist views are provoked even further when she is second choice in the running to be laureate and not until Seamus Heaney drops out of the race it is only then that she is the favourite to become the new poet laureate. It can be seen that again because Heaney was male and she was female the automatic choice would have been Heaney because of the stereotypical views in society regarding men being better then women. These could be some of the reasons why Duffy writes many poems from a female's point of view regarding the male gender. Carol Ann Duffy's ability to give voices to previously silenced figures helps her tell the reader her views on society. By using characters' voices rather than her own, Duffy identifies with the speaker and confers authority onto a voice which

• Word count: 2396

Compare and contrast the poems 'I remember, I remember' and 'to the virgins to make much of time'

Compare and contrast the poems 'I remember, I remember' and 'to the virgins to make much of time' As humans we all face the passing of time and inevitably death but how each person deals with this is different. This essay will compare and contrast two poems, called 'I remember, I remember', and 'to the virgins, to make much of time'. A comparative essay will illustrate how differently different people can experience life, yet how connected we all are through this experience we share. Both of these poems deal with the theme of youth and looking back in wisdom, a regret for the passing of time and a longing for it return. The first poem ' I remember, I remember' is written in the point of view of the poet. As the title suggests, this poem is about a mans reflection on his past and his comments on his present. He explains what he felt like as a child growing up, and how he took pleasure with everything that surrounded him. This is highlighted when he writes "my spirit flew in feathers then" this portrays his happiness as a boy and how he felt so free. He doesn't speak much about his future, creating an impression that he does not want to think about it too much and this keeps the reader at a distance, or maybe he is not enjoying the present and going through deep depression. We assume this when he writes ' but now, I often wish the night had borne my breath away', this draws

• Word count: 1695

Commentary on Maiden Voyage (1943) by Denton Welch.

Commentary on Maiden Voyage (1943) by Denton Welch Sam Bateman The passage begins with a clear and concise statement that indicates to us many things: the writer is not in their natural surroundings, the time is morning and there is another character, Mr. Butler and it is most definitely a British sphere of influence. It also gives us a sense of danger, with foreigners not being very popular. This also gives us a sense of isolation. This feeling is reinforced in the next paragraph, with the writer continually alluding to imprisonment and isolation; "I began to feel imprisoned". The writer also uses emotional language to enforce this, such as "hated", "fiercely" and "brooding". This paragraph also reveals to us that the subject is stubborn, as they do not want to be dependent on others, as they "would never wan to do what I wanted to do." This stubbornness plays a major role later. The symbolism of the moth-eaten balls and the old tennis racket gives us a sense that there is little fun that goes on here that these instruments of leisure go largely unused, adding to the sense of boredom about the place. It is this lack of excitement that drives the protagonist to their later actions. As time passes, the main character becomes more and more fed up with their apparent confinement, "I could stand it no longer". The stubbornness and boredom of their surroundings drives the

• Word count: 992

From your reading of 'The Fenland Chronicle' discuss the farmers view of what life is like for girls in service. Consider the way the story is told, what is revealed about the narrator and the daily routines of a maid.

From your reading of 'The Fenland Chronicle' discuss the farmers view of what life is like for girls in service. Consider the way the story is told, what is revealed about the narrator and the daily routines of a maid. The 'Fenland Chronicle', by Sybill Marshall, is an oral history piece, and its various areas are interesting not only historically but also linguistically. These will be analysed below. The language and structure used in the piece links in with the narrator and the life for girls in service, which will be discussed later. The piece is not perfectly structured, as, being an oral history, which was spoken, recorded and then had it's transcript written down, did not allow the author time to carefully organise his or her ideas as one would when writing on paper. The piece does have a general structure, as the first paragraph appears to be an introduction to the life of girls in service, given personal opinions and basic descriptions of the "farmers", a "jumped up, proud lot". The paragraph becomes more specific towards the end as it focuses on a girl in service named Eva and an anecdotal episode. The second paragraph goes on to describe another girl named Shady, and then in the next two paragraphs, a chronological outline of her daily routine is given. In the final paragraphs, we see the seasonal changes to a girl's life in service and her timetable, and finally a

• Word count: 1245

It Has Been Said That Carol Anne Duffy Often Portrays A Negative View Of Love. How Far Do You Agree? Refer To The Collection Rapture And Examine At Least One Poem In Detail:

It Has Been Said That Carol Anne Duffy Often Portrays A Negative View Of Love. How Far Do You Agree? Refer To The Collection 'Rapture' And Examine At Least One Poem In Detail: Carol Anne Duffy is one of the most significant names in contemporary British poetry, and has achieved that rare feat of critical and commercial success. Her work is widely read by critics and academics. Some critics have indicated that Duffy has been too populist in her work. However on the whole, her work is highly acclaimed in literary circles and lay readers. Carol Anne Duffy does portray a very pessimistic representation of love, as argued by reviewers. This negativity echoes throughout her notable collection 'Rapture' and is attenuated by the different stages of the relationship. Duffy clearly exemplifies the theme of love and affection in 'Tea' by illustrating how even a mundane noun, could imply that even something as ordinary as an everyday cup of tea could be used to represent and symbolise the early stages of a relationship. She starts off positively, 'I like pouring your tea' [1]. Already she is asserting her affection for her lover. The syntax of this sentence is extremely effective, at the beginning of the poem, she has shown us that doing anything for her partner, is more of hobby rather than a hindrance. Even in the first line, she is showing that, rather like a wife, she enjoys doing

• Word count: 1297

Discuss the Character and Functions of Sandra

Discuss the Character and Functions of Sandra David Pickford "Beautiful Thing" is set in London this is used to illustrate what Sandra's character is like. Sandra Gangle is a tough middle class woman, who lives in a tidy council flat in South London. Sandra is house proud she likes everything in it to be nice looking. An example of this is the hanging baskets hanging on the wall out side her house. Sandra also looks after her self we can tell this by the Body Shop products on the floor. Sandra has many roles in this play, which include being mother, neighbour, barmaid, single parent, workingwoman and a girlfriend. Sandra is a survivor in the sense that she is bringing up a son all on her own and she has to pay for every thing her self. "When I had three pee in my purse I went robbing for that boy" This Indicates Sandra's loyalty towards to her son, and how much she cares for him and tries to provide for him. An alternative example of how deprived Sandra was that "I couldn't afford a cot" This proves that however much Sandra tried and robbed she still couldn't afford the basics. Sandra is also very abusive, using foul language to insult people. A good example of Sandra's abusive language is the first word of the play, which is "SLAG." This shows a major part of Sandra's character and is used to set the scene for the rest of the story. Although Sandra uses foul language

• Word count: 1710

Little Red Cap revises Little Red Riding Hood in order to explore a rite of passage through puberty, the seductions of heterosexuality and initiation into the male-dominated world of writing. In light of this

"'Little Red Cap' revises 'Little Red Riding Hood' in order to explore a rite of passage through puberty, the seductions of heterosexuality and initiation into the male-dominated world of writing." In light of this comment explore whether 'Little Red Cap' is a fitting start to The Worlds Wife. In Carol Ann Duffy's collection of poems, The Worlds Wife, the first and last poems are vital to the collection. When viewing the book holistically, Little Red Cap's aim is to introduce the stylistic features of the poems to follow, whilst Demeter aims to conclude the collection. 'Little Red Cap' launches straight into issues addressed throughout The Worlds Wife regarding feminism, sexuality, male domination, and the growth from childhood, into adulthood. Although 'Little Red Cap' is revised from the classic fairytale Little Red Riding hood, Duffy flips the tale on its head introducing sexuality and seduction. The poem begins "At childhoods end" a metaphor used by Duffy to demonstrate the power of childhood, portraying it as a physical place. The landscape itself points towards a more aware, dangerous, sexual world that gradually becomes a metaphor for the stages of life, perhaps suggesting securities of childhood are slowly depreciating "The houses peter out into playing fields". Through use of enjambement in the third stanza, "a dark tangled thorny place/ lit by the eyes of owls"

• Word count: 1273

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A-level results 2024: how did each subject perform?

A-level results released today show increases in the top grades awarded for most of the main subjects - but not in English.

Overall, the proportion of top A* and A grades at A level awarded in England this year was higher than last year and higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, the exams regulator Ofqual completed a two-step process to return to normal grading after the pandemic and, this year, the plan was for standards to be maintained from 2023.

In 2024, examiners were asked to ensure the standard of work was “broadly comparable” to last year. 2023 saw a drop in the proportion of top grades awarded compared with 2022.

Here are today’s A-level results from 2024, broken down by subject:

Maths and English

The proportion of top grades in maths rose very slightly compared with last year to see 41.5 per cent of students achieve an A or A*.

Last year, 41 per cent of entries received the top grades in maths (A*/A), and 40.5 per cent in 2019.

However, in English literature, the proportion of entries getting top grades was down slightly - at 25.2 per cent compared with 25.4 per cent last year. It was still above the 24.1 per cent of entries awarded top grades in 2019.

Proportions receiving A*-C in English literature remained the same as last year, when 82.9 per cent received a C or above.

In 2023 for maths, 76 per cent received a C or above - similar to this year at 76.1 per cent.

Maths remains the most popular subject for A-level students, and finalised entries increased by 11.3 per cent on 2023 data to 100,052 entries in England.

• More on A-level results day:
• A-level results 2024: Top grades up in England
• Reaction: How resilience in the face of disruption defined this year’s A-level cohort
• Sir Ian Bauckham: Ofqual chief raises concern over region’s A-level performance
• Trends: 8 key trends in this year’s A-level results

In English Language, there was also a small decrease in the proportion of top grades awarded - from 12.2 per cent last year to 11.5 per cent this year. This, however, is still above the 11.3 per cent achieving an A or A* in 2019.

All science A levels saw a rise in the proportion of top grades awarded compared with both last year and 2019.

The proportion achieving top grades in biology was 27.1 per cent, compared with 25.9 per cent in 2023 and 23.5 per cent in 2019.

In chemistry this year, 32.2 per cent of students received an A* or A. This was higher than in 2023 when 31.1 per cent achieved the top grades, and higher than in 2019, when it was 28.4 per cent.

In physics, 31.5 per cent of students achieved the top grades. This was an increase from last year when 30.8 per cent were awarded an A or A*, and also from 2019, when top grades were given to 27.5 per cent of entries.

Tes reported in June that the Institute of Physics had called on exam board AQA to take action after teachers reported this year’s A-level paper 2 was “unreasonably difficult” .

In 2023, students only had to achieve between 51 and 54 per cent in physics A level to get an A because of where the grade boundaries were set.

Finalised entry numbers saw A-level physics entries increase by 12.8 per cent on last year in England, while chemistry increased by 2.4 per cent.

Analysis by the Education Policy Institute found there has been a bigger increase in the proportion of girls achieving top grades in some science, technology, engineering and maths subjects since 2023, particularly in maths, further maths and the sciences.

However, boys still received more A* and A grades in maths and physics. Girls achieved more top grades in biology and chemistry.

Modern foreign languages also saw more top grades awarded compared with 2023 in Spanish, French and German.

But, like most subjects, modern foreign languages saw a big drop from the proportion of top grades awarded in 2022.

This year, 36.6 per cent achieved an A or an A* in Spanish, 39.1 per cent in French and 47.1 per cent in German.

This compares with 35 per cent getting those top grades in Spanish in 2023, 37.6 per cent in French and 44.4 per cent in German.

Those receiving A*-C grades were also up in all three languages compared with last year.

Both French and Spanish were among the 10 subjects with the biggest growth in subject entries - 8.2 per cent in French and 2.6 per cent in Spanish.

Following the trend, top grades awarded also increased in music, drama, and art and design.

In drama, 21.8 per cent received the top grades in 2024 compared with 20.8 per cent last year and 18 per cent in 2019.

Meanwhile, in art and design, 32 per cent received the top grades in 2024 compared with 30.8 per cent last year. This was well above 2019 levels, when 27.7 per cent got an A or A*.

Finally, in music, the proportion receiving top grades this year was 24.2 per cent, up from 23.2 per cent last year, and above 19.3 per cent in 2019.

Drama saw a 6.2 per cent drop in entries this year compared with 2023. Music and art and design saw very small increases in entries for England compared with last year.

Analysis from the Association of School and College Leaders earlier this week found that A-level entries to creative subjects have “collapsed” since the English Baccalaureate was introduced in 2011.

A-level drama entries dropped off by 43 per cent from 2011 to 2023, ASCL found, while music and design and technology entries fell by 45 per cent.

At the same time, maths, further maths and science entries soared.

The union’s general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said it was clear that the “English Baccalaureate has had a devastating effect on creative arts and technology subjects”.

He added: “It has led to schools having to prioritise their highly constrained resources on EBacc subjects, and other subjects have dwindled as a result.”

Top grades were broadly the same for history A level this year, with a very small increase to 24.3 per cent of entries achieving an A or A*.

This is compared with 2023 when 24.1 per cent gained the top grades in history. It was still slightly above 2019, when 22.5 per cent got an A or A*.

This year, 81.2 per cent of entries in history achieved a C or above, up from 80.3 per cent last year.

In geography, there was a slightly larger rise in the proportion of top grades awarded to 24.2 per cent.

Last year in geography, 23.7 per cent were awarded an A or A*. This was very similar to 23.3 per cent in 2019.

Geography, however, saw a very slight fall in the awarding of a C or above, 78.7 per cent this year and 79 per cent last year.

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topics in this article

Study Postgraduate

Phd in philosophy and literature (2023 entry).

Course code

2 October 2023

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

University of Warwick

Find out more about our Philosophy and Literature PhD.

The Philosophy and Literature PhD is a leading programme, suiting students who thrive on independent, interdisciplinary study. You will undertake a substantial research project as part of an active research community, supervised by experts. Study Philosophy with English or Modern Languages.

Course overview

The Warwick PhD in Philosophy and Literature is aimed at outstanding students who wish to pursue advanced research and prepare to become professional researchers in, and/or teachers of, philosophy.

The Philosophy and Literature degree is for candidates whose research projects combine philosophical and literary concerns. The combination can be achieved in a number of ways, as aspects of literature can be treated as topics of philosophical inquiry, or a more combined and interdisciplinary approach can be taken.

While many UK philosophy departments possess strength in analytic philosophy or continental philosophy, we are distinctive in having world-leading philosophers from both fields. We also collaborate extensively with academics and practitioners in other subjects including English and other modern European languages.

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In addition to regular supervisions, in the first year you will also take our core PhD seminar, which engages you with a broad range of philosophical issues beyond your thesis topic that are central to different philosophical traditions. You will have the opportunity to undertake a range of professional development activities to support your research, your thesis writing, and to provide teacher training.   Additionally, you are expected to attend any relevant postgraduate seminars, including modules on our taught MA programmes.

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Minimum requirements.

A Master’s level degree in Philosophy or a Master’s degree (or equivalent) with a significant Philosophy component; a writing sample of 2,500 words; a strong research proposal.

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You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

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Philosophy at Warwick

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At Warwick, you’ll be part of an inclusive staff and student community. We provide a vibrant and friendly environment where our students have dedicated support to explore their passion for philosophy and develop their skills as researchers.

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