A Level
English Language
and Literature
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WHAT IS ENGLISH LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE?
If you’re fascinated by language and
what people can do with it, love reading
and want to develop your writing skills,
English Language and Literature is for
you. You will get the opportunity to
study some of the most engaging texts
ever written, including novels, poems,
Shakespearean and post-1900 drama,
and classic non-literary texts, such as
Truman Capote’s ‘non-fiction novel’,
‘In Cold Blood’. You will also study
creative writing and how to produce
highly effective pieces in a broad
range of genres.
WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?
The pre-1914 Poetry Anthology will give
you a comprehensive introduction to the
development of English Literature from
the Renaissance to the Victorian period,
referencing key literary movements
and the broad range of social, political,
historical and cultural factors that
influenced writers.
Literary study will also include detailed
analysis of Charlotte Bronte’s classic
19th century novel ‘Jane Eyre’.
Both Shakespearean and modern
drama are explored through detailed
study of ‘Othello’ and Tennessee
Williams’ ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’.
Non-fiction is covered through the study
of ‘In Cold Blood’, where narrative bias
is explored alongside the novelist and
journalistic devices used by Capote to
produce this classic American text.
Also, through studying discourse
analysis, you will learn how to analyse
spoken English in a variety of forms,
including transcript analysis, script-
writing and dramatic monologues.
For coursework you will study a
particular prose genre and will analyse
key works of fiction and/or non-fiction,
producing an extended essay on one
distinct area of literature. You will also
produce two pieces of creative writing
with close links to your chosen area
of genre study.
WHAT NEXT?
A level English Language and Literature
is a core subject so the skills developed
give students opportunities to move
forward into a range of areas.
Many students go onto study the
subject in its various forms at university,
including English Literature, English
Language, Combined English, Linguistics,
Journalism and Creative Writing.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS GO
WELL WITH THIS SUBJECT?
History, Religious Studies, French,
Spanish, German, Philosophy,
Psychology, Sociology, Film Studies
and Media Studies.
(COMBINED)
CAREERS
• Journalism
• Public relations
• Teaching
• Lecturing
• Publishing
• Marketing
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DID YOU KNOW?
A new word is added
to the dictionary every
two hours.
“ I love the freedom of independent study
and the choice to learn more in depth
about the subjects that I am genuinely
interested in. Newman has been an
inspiring and motivating place to
do more of the things that I love.”
Ella Hornby
SCHOOL: Longridge High School
SUBJECTS: A Levels in English Combined,
Early Modern History and BTEC Health & Social Care